K37 #498 and K36 #484 head up a freight over three rail trackage between Alamosa and La Jara in June of 1967:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 06&nseq=16

Most of these surviving narrow gauge K37 class 2-8-2's seem to be out of service today. This is probably understandable as they were built in the Rio Grande's Burnham Shops in 1928-1930 using standard gauge 2-8-0's originally built around 1900 as I recall. The K36's on the other hand, came new from Baldwin in 1925 and even the K28's were built by Alco at Schenectady in 1923. So the "newest" D&RGW narrow gauge Mikado's were, in reality, the oldest.

So...if the K37's have been mostly withdrawn from service, I wonder if any thought has ever been given to trying to take just one of these engines and convert it BACK to a D&RGW standard gauge 2-8-0? Yes I know it is most certainly a big undertaking! But with the talk that comes up from time to time about building a new NYC Hudson or some other extinct steamer, doesn't a K37 at least offer a decent starting point? The only Rio Grande standard gauge steamer existing today, is the 1890 C28 class 2-8-0 at the Colorado Railroad Museum. And there seems to be no plans for #583 to ever steam again at Golden. Well, I have brought up what is probably a stupid idea. But, brought up it is. Now we will let comments explain why it can't be done.

Les

It could be done. It would cost a potentially useful narrow gage engine that could theoretically operate at D&S or CATS, to provide another standard gage 2-8-0 which would be among others of its kind that aren't being used right now. It would also be about 75% replica, so why not make it all new and avoid the inherent dififculties with old repaired boilers?

I can come up with more practical reasons not to do it than to do it, but it is possible theoretically.

dave

Dig a little and read the fine print, and find a picture of one of those old standard gauge engines. This story that they were "rebuilt" from standard gauge engines is a stretch. They saved the boiler, cab, plumbing, accessories, and the tender, but I believe the running gear and frame is all new to the narrow gauge conversion. I don't believe a "conversion" is possible.

Hi,

The frame, drivers, rods and everything else that is the "engine" except for the rear trailing truck is identical to the K-36's. This was a poor-man's way of getting 10 "new" K-36's. The K-36 frame and running gear was the starting point and built new by Baldwin. Since the C-41 boiler had a longer firebox, the rear of the frame had to be altered. This made the K-37 locomotive a little heavier than the K-36.

I would guess that the only ORIGINAL C-41 items left on the K-37s are the boiler, tender trucks, tender frame, cab, and domes. Several have been stripped for parts such as air-pumps, driving rods, bells headlights and so forth. On the C&TS, 495 or 495 (both static display) has a driver set from one of the K-36's since it was bad (flanges worn unevenly as I recall) and the K-36 has the K-37s driver set.

The tender tank has been rebuilt several times under D&RGW to the pattern of the C-41. There are several differences between locomotives due to wrecks and derailments. For instance over on the NGDF, there is a long thread about the original tenders of the K-37s being swapped around and that there are 8 K-37 locomotives around and only 7 tenders. Additionally one of the tenders still in existence is from 495 (I think) that rolled into the Salida Turntable pit in the 1950's and was stripped of usable parts and scrapped.

499 was traded to Canyon City a number of years back by the D&S for K-36 496 (which had been displayed there since the 1950's). 499 was sent over with the tender from 498 since 499 was delivered to Durango with no tender when Bradshaw purchased the Silverton.

As I understand it, the D&S has both its remaining K-37s (493 and 498 for sale). They only use the K-36s (4) and the K-28s (3).

The C&TS plans to have 4-K36's running by the end of the year and hopefully the K-27. In the future, one of the K-37s (497 which has run there is apparently in worse shape than 492 or 494) should be running again. Six operable locos should be enough for the moment. The C&TS has K-36 483 in addition to the three K-37s mentioned above not in operating condition.

If someone wins the lottery and funds the restoration of any or all of the out of service locos, all ten C&TS steamers could be in operating condition. If so, maybe the same person would purchase the 493 and 498 for the C&TS at least for parts. <GRIN>

The only other D&RGW narrow gauge mike in existence is in Wisconsin and they are using her much of the time.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

Doug

464, the other D&RGW mike, is at the Huckleberry RR in Flint, Michigan. And, she is still lettered D&RGW.