On September 15, 1955, the Santa Fe Railway Company officially dedicated the steam-powered Engine 1809 to the City of Slaton. Presented by W.A.J. Carter, Superintendent of the Slaton Division of Santa Fe, the engine was accepted by Slaton Mayor L.B. Wooton. Engineer J.W. Pettigrew brought the 1809 into the Slaton rail yard for its last journey before retirement. Built in 1906 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, the engine had a 2-6-2 wheel arrangement, weighed 242,000 pounds or 121 tons, could generate a 200 pound steam pressure, had 70-inch drivers, and was used for both freight and passenger service.