What is the KVRHC?
The Kaw Valley Rail Heritage Conservancy is a Kansas-based nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Santa Fe locomotive 3463, as well as the interpretation and sharing of Kansas railroad history.
The organization grew out of the Kansas-based volunteers of the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) and was restructured as KVRHC to focus on long-term preservation, public engagement, and maintaining the legacy of CSR’s work in modern steam research and rail history.
How Can I help the KVRHC?
There are many ways to support the Kaw Valley Rail Heritage Conservancy. You can get involved through hands-on volunteer work, assisting with events, fundraising, research, or behind-the-scenes support.
Donations also play a vital role in helping preserve and restore Santa Fe 3463 and sustain the organization’s ongoing efforts. If you’re able, a contribution of any size is greatly appreciated.
No matter your skills or availability, there is a place for you to contribute.
Visit our Contact Us Page or our Get Involved Page for more information.
Where is 3463 Located?
Santa Fe 3463 is located in Topeka, Kansas, at the Stormont Vail Events Center. The Locomotive rests on the southern edge of the property, past the parking lots, on the Shunga Creek Trail.
Santa Fe 3463 sits in a uniquely awkward spot at the southern edge of the Stormont Vail Events Center, tucked beyond the parking lots along the Shunga Creek Trail. This is something we hope to improve in the future with the support of our volunteers and community.
What is the Plan for 3463?
The Kaw Valley Rail Heritage Conservancy is focused on preserving, protecting, and cosmetically restoring Santa Fe locomotive 3463 to reflect its appearance as it was donated by the Santa Fe Railroad. Our plan includes ongoing hands-on restoration, regular maintenance, and interpretive efforts to share the locomotive’s history with the public. The KVRHC would additionally like to relocate the locomotive to a more publicly accessible and secure location and place it under a protective shelter. Through educational programs, events, and community outreach, we aim to ensure that 3463’s legacy remains a living part of Kansas railroad history for generations to come.
Why did the CSR transition into the KVRHC?
The Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) originally led the effort to restore Santa Fe 3463, but after navigating a lengthy legal dispute over ownership and facing regulatory changes that limited mainline steam operations, the team realized a new structure was needed. In the years that followed, CSR continued research into renewable biofuels for historic and railroad equipment, with the results preserved in the CSRchive.
Once those obligations were met, the volunteers refocused on preserving 3463 as a public heritage artifact. By reorganizing as the Kaw Valley Rail Heritage Conservancy, the group created a local, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to hands-on restoration, community outreach, educational programs, and long-term planning, ensuring that 3463 and Kansas railroad history are preserved and shared for generations to come.