Triple headed narrow gauge action

[Erik W]

Many of you have probably heard about the Durango & Silverton RR here in Colorado.  There is a lesser-known portion of the old D&RGW system operated by the states of Colorado and New Mexico.  The Cumbres and Toltec runs between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico.  I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in steam and/or narrow gauge.  Go here for photos and info on working on restoring the historic equipment      http://www.cumbrestoltec.org/gallery.php        and here for info on tickets, etc.  http://www.cumbrestoltec.com    My wife and I have ridden many times and thoroughly enjoy staying in Chama and walking around the yard checking out all the rolling stock and facilities.  It's easy to chase the train as it hammers up the 4% grade up to Cumbres. The C&T also runs photo freights every season where they re stencil the locos for D&RGW and pull trains made up of restored Rio Grande rolling stock.   Here are a few shots from triple headed trains in the last ten years.






Here is another shot of the rotary clearing the line at the beginning of the season in the spring of 1997.



Erik

[mopaustin]

Never been to the D&SNGRR, but I've been to the C&TSRR three times... from what I've read and seen, the Cumbres and Toltec floats my boat a lot more.  ;D Durango's waaaay more touristy than Chama.

Besides, their trackage can handle K-37s, the D&SNGRR can't. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'd love to see a synopsis of the D&RGW Mikes. K-27? K-36? K-37?

I'm curious about the differences, as I'm used to the EBT, where there were no classes, and it was just the road number: 15, 16, etc...

[Erik W]

I'd love to see a synopsis of the D&RGW Mikes. K-27? K-36? K-37?

Ed,

To be very brief for now.  K stands for mikado and the number is the tractive effort in thousands of pounds.  So a K-27 had 27,000 pounds of tractive effort, a K-36 had 36,000 pounds, etc.  The D&RGW had 4 K classes.  K-27, K28, K-36, K-37.  The first three were built for 3' gauge.  The K-37s were rebuilt by the D&RGW from old C-41 standard gauge consolidations.  I'll post some photos of the 4 classes when I have time.

Erik

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks Eric!

I'd be very interested in the pictures.

[Erik W]

Here are some photos from the Denver Public Library website.


K-27.  15 of these were built, #450-464.  They were the smallest and oldest of the K class.  These got the nickname "Mudhen" at some point.  Rumor has it that it was because the counterweights outside the frame made them look like they were wadling down the track.


K-28.  10 of these were built, #470-479.  They were known as the sport model because they rode well and had a lower cab than the other Ks.  The main spotting feature is the airpump on the boiler face.


K-36.  10 of these were built, #480-489.  These are larger than the K-27s and K-28s.  They have a beefier look to them.  The main spotting feature is the shorter stack and domes.  An interesting fact is that 9 out of the 10 of this class still exist and 8 are currently operational or will be by the end of summer!!  See here    http://www.freewebs.com/drgwk36/meetthek36s.htm


K-37.  10 of these were built, #490-499.  These are even beefier looking than the K-36s.  The main spotting features when comparing these to the K-36s are the much shorter tender and differently shaped sand and steam domes. 

Erik

P.S. - You can tell then from the tender shape that the first triple headed photo in my original post has a K-36 on the front followed by a K-37.

[mopaustin]

You can also tell what K-series they are by the numbering:

For example:

4 - Mikado
9 - K-37
5 - #5

Tell me if that's right Erik.

If so, then what belonged in the 460 series? Were they the last 5 K-27s?

Where did each of the Mikes end up? How does the D&SNGRR compare to the C&TSRR?

[mopaustin]

And were the K-27s the only ones that the Rio Grande Southern also use? ???

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Awesome! Thanks for that.

It all makes sense now.

Dammit, now I'm thinking about getting one of those moguls...

[tom mann]

Dammit, now I'm thinking about getting one of those moguls...

Which one?

[Erik W]

You can also tell what K-series they are by the numbering:

For example:

4 - Mikado
9 - K-37
5 - #5

Tell me if that's right Erik.

If so, then what belonged in the 460 series? Were they the last 5 K-27s?

Where did each of the Mikes end up? How does the D&SNGRR compare to the C&TSRR?

I updated the post, adding the loco numbers.  You're correct in the 460s being the last 5 K-27s.  

The D&SNGRR has K-36s # 480, 481, 482, 486.  The C&TSRR has K-36s # 483 (non operational), 484, 487, 488, 489 (nearly finished being rebuilt, should be done this summer).

As far as K classes on the Rio Grande Southern, only K-27s operated on it due to the light rail and bridge weight restrictions.  Here's a roster of what ran on the RGS     http://www.drgw.org/data/steam/roster/rgs001.htm

Erik

[mopaustin]

Thanks for all of the info, Erik.

That John West site is the bomb.

I wanna Mogul, too. But I think I'm saving up for a N-scale MoP 0-8-0.

But DSNGRR doesn't have any K-37s right? Do they have a K-27 or K-28?

I know CTSRR has a K-37...

[mopaustin]

I'm guessing that the "Bumblebee" that the D&S has is a K-28, from the way the front of the boiler looks.

[Erik W]

The D&SNGRR doesn't have an operational K-37.  They used to have #497 but traded it to C&TSRR for a K-36.  The K-37 was too hard on the D&SNGRRs track and bridges.  They do have # 493 and 498 on static display though.  C&TSRR has #497 awaiting rebuild and # 492, 494, 495 on static display.  C&TSRR also has K-27 #463 awaiting rebuild.  The D&SNGRR has 3 K-28s, #473, 476, 478 with only #473, 478 being operational.  476 is awaiting rebuilding.  Here's a shot of #478 taken at Railfest in Durango a couple of days ago.   

[mopaustin]

How do you think they compare (D&S, C&TS) Erik?

Have you ridden the SL&RG?