Colombian 2-8-2 acquired for Georgetown Loop

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:21 pm

Full story at Trains.com for subscribers: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... otive.aspx

Quote:

The Georgetown Loop Railroad has acquired an ex-National Railways of Colombia narrow gauge 2-8-2 for use on the Colorado tourist hauler. Baldwin built 3-foot gauge 2-8-2 No. 48, the “Carlos S. Cuartes” in 1928. Its chassis will be overhauled at the railroad shop in Bogota, Colombia, later this year.

M Austin · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2005 1:05 am **Posts:** 488

Why don't they just get one of the 490 curve straighteners from D&S?

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:40 am

Seems like they ought to splurge and get two now, while they have the chance.

Robby Peartree · **Joined:** Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:16 am **Posts:** 767

Hi Matt,

The CHS owns the 491. When this was mentioned to them several years ago they said it was really a “standard gauge locomotive” and too big for the loop. It is a comment that has confused me for years.

Robby Peartree

Phil Raynes · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:40 am

Discussion on the Narrow Gauge Discussion page indicates that the problem is not so much the weight, but the size (especially the width). Since the 490 series (K-37) were built using older standard gauge consolidation boilers, they are larger than the previous 480 series (K-36), and may not fit through some of the cuts on the Georgetown Loop. Having ridden behind diesel #1203, it is wide, and barely fits through several of the narrow cuts. The K-37's may be wider, although I do not have dimensions handy. I hope that helps, although I suppose I may just be muddying the waters!

Dave · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:29 am

No, you're not - it is a loading gage question. K hogs won't fit.

This is very good news, and has been in the works for a very long time. Best wishes and very good work and thanks, Mark and Phil.

dave

John Risley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:34 pm **Posts:** 965

Where would I find a picture or link of this new locomotive? Have a real thing for these small SA and "sugar cane" locomtives. Thanks in advance. Cheers, John.

elueck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 1:01 am

The NG discussion forum has a picture and some statistics as well.

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,206424

John Risley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:34 pm **Posts:** 965

Thank you, Elueck. Cheers, John

elueck · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:59 am

I received this today from a railfan friend of mine in Costa Rica, Omar Dengo. It is #48 under steam in 1981. It looks like a scaled down version of a D&RGW K-27 but is really an outside frame EBT #12, modernized to 1928.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbvm77El1E

jasonsobczynski · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:50 pm

Neat idea to have the chassis rebuilt down there, especially considering the loop has no one skilled in rebuilding rod engines. While I get the idea of the locomotive boiler being rebuilt in the US I do wonder who will be providing the mechanical oversight on the mechanical end. While the guys in columbia likely still have the skilled labor, their materials and adherence to tolerances likely leave a bit to be desired. Beyond that, the fra regs related to the chassis are as stringent as those for the boiler and are equally as critical for successful long term operation. I hope this is not something they are going into where they think that just because they have in the past and can in the present means they can produce a product considered acceptable in the US.

Cheers, Jason

David Notarius · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:57 pm

This is another youtube link to Colombian steam worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0WPUrjb ... re=related
Dave

timken2626 · **Joined:** Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:33 am **Posts:** 65

According to Jeff Badger, who posted over the the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum,

"Hold yer iron horses there pardner...

First off #48 is still in negotiations and is far from a done deal. "

The rest of the post is to be seen here, http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,206496,206517#msg-206517 where there's a great deal more info and photos. Jeff's post is near the bottom.

Steve

Jeff Badger · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:23 pm

I would have to differ with Mr. Sobczynski.

GLRR does have a very capable mechanical staff available to work on rod and geared locomotives.

And from firsthand experience from a recent visit to Colombia, the leadership and quality of the work and materials being used in the shops are equal to what is being done here in the USA sans the regulations we have to follow per FRA.

I listened to one of the most well respected steam experts in Central & South America as he described to us how they do boiler work, patches etc. and their factor of safety.

Yes Colombia is NOT the USA but it is not a 3rd world country either.

Robby Peartree · **Joined:** Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:16 am **Posts:** 767

To All

The following material was taken from John Norwood’s book Rio Grande Narrow Gauge. The dimensions for a K-36 running gear match the K-37 until you get to the trailing truck which the k-37 is one foot longer. The two classes are 10 feet 5 inches at the cylinders in width and 9 feet 9 inches at the running boards. The K-28 is 10 feet 5.5 inches wide at the cylinders. D&RGW 375 was 9 feet 1 inches at the cylinders. The C-19 class (346) locomotives were 8 feet 7 inches at the running board and 7 feet wide at the cylinders. The boilers used for the K-37 were from standard gauge locomotives but the frames were new construction. The K-37’s are narrow gauge locomotives they just happen to be big for narrow gauge. What confused me about the comment is the ignorance it showed by a CHS official to their own historical artifacts.

On the curve issue the sharpest curve on the Silverton Branch is 24 degrees between Hermosa and Cascade. The mainline between Monero and Amargo (between Chama and Durango) also had 24 degree curves. So the Silverton Branch has no curve sharper than the mainline if the profile sheets are correct.

I also want to take this opportunity to say I have had very pleasant conversations with Mr. Reader and I believe he has the skills temperament and experience needed to undertake such a project.

Robby Peartree