Things are looking up for D&RGW 168

Finderskeepers · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:56 am

City Parks and recreation dept unanimously approved the proposed C&TS lease today at their monthly meeting. The staff will take it to the City Council in January, and then it'll probably be May before the National Register approves the change in location. The link is to the meeting agenda, which in turn has links to a bunch of informative stuff, including the draft lease agreement.

http://www.springsgov.com/Files/121114-Agenda.pdf

http://www.springsgov.com/units/parksre ... Toltec.pdf

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Another narrow gauge Ten Wheeler

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/colorado/drg168.jpg

gbrewer · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:30 am **Posts:** 150

Recent photos of 168

philip.marshall · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:16 pm

For an engine that's been on outdoor static display since the 1930s (!) she appears to be in great shape. I hope the deal goes through and look forward to seeing her on the C&TS!

-Philip Marshall

OldTrainManBill · **Joined:** Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:51 pm **Posts:** 4

Is this engine just going to be moved there and spruced back up? or they have other plans for it?

Bill Travis

philip.marshall · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:04 am

OldTrainManBill wrote:

Is this engine just going to be moved there and spruced back up? or they have other plans for it?

My understanding is that John Bush wants to restore 168 to operating condition. In conjunction with the C&TS's new passenger car restoration program, the idea is to have a genuine 1880s D&RG passenger consist available for charters and other special events. Pretty neat stuff.

-Philip Marshall

OldTrainManBill · **Joined:** Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:51 pm **Posts:** 4

philip.marshall wrote:

OldTrainManBill wrote:

Is this engine just going to be moved there and spruced back up? or they have other plans for it?

My understanding is that John Bush wants to restore 168 to operating condition. In conjunction with the C&TS's new passenger car restoration program, the idea is to have a genuine 1880s D&RG passenger consist available for charters and other special events. Pretty neat stuff.

-Philip Marshall

That is pretty cool, I see it has most of its valuables still on the locomotive.

philip.marshall · **Posted:** Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:20 pm

Here is a video of the relevant discussion at the 10/16/2014 meeting of the C&TSRR Commission. John Bush's comments begin around 3:27.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zWpalRDZXI

-Philip Marshall

Reading 900 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:27 pm **Posts:** 118

That has to be one of the most beautiful 4-6-0's I have ever seen. Looking forward to seeing and hearing it run!
Alan

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:52 pm

This showed up on my Facebook page, and it looks like things are getting official:

https://www.facebook.com/cumbrestoltecs ... =1&theater

http://cumbrestoltec.com/wp-content/upl ... Reborn.pdf

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:02 pm

For reference, an older thread on sister 169, with references to the 168:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33204

And 168 in action, at the time of her retirement, in this film at 5:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sxtr_vCRBQ

Rick Rowlands · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:05 am

Wasn't this locomotive the subject of an L&RP article by the title "From a Sows Ear to a Silk Purse"?

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

I fell in love with Sierra #3. When I first saw 169 in Alamosa, I saw a sister to SRR #3 - just a little smaller.

John Bush is currently running the C&TS and he restored 168 sometime in the 1990s (I think).

There is still a desire to get 169 restored. However it is apparently in much worse condition than 168. There was a mention of this on NGDF within the last year or so.

While I like RGS #20 (also a 4-6-0), the uneven spacing of the drivers is what has always attracted me.

Doug vV

hamster · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:46 am

Built in the mid-1880's, does this thing have a lap-seam boiler? I know that Part 230 allows for these, but at a very "enhanced" inspection schedule.

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477