Word on the Narrow Gauge Discussion forum is that Durango & Silverton is considering dressing up K28 2-8-2 No. 473 in "bumble bee" colors, with a yellow cab and tender, as was done about 1951 for a movie. See link below:

http://gowest.coalliance.org/cgi-bin/imager?00008246+OP-8246
ryarger@rypn.org

> Word on the Narrow Gauge Discussion forum is
> that Durango & Silverton is considering
> dressing up K28 2-8-2 No. 473 in
> "bumble bee" colors, with a yellow
> cab and tender, as was done about 1951 for a
> movie.

A few corrections.

First, D&S isn't "considering" it - they've confirmed publicly that they plan to do it.

Second, the paint job was applied in spring 1950, along with the phony stack and headlight, and four passenger cars were painted at the same time.

Third, the paint was not for a movie. It was done to publicize the Silverton train and take advantage of the hype surrounding "Ticket to Tomahawk." (Combine 212, one of the cars painted gold and silver, figures in the movie.) Harold Eno, General Passenger Agent in Denver, pushed the idea, and there was a lot of sentiment to do this in Durango, too.

After the end of the 1950 tourist season, 473 was put back into the "San Juan" power rotation, and when that train was discontinued January 31, 1951, 473 and combine 212 were the standard consist of a "stub" that ran Chama to Dulce until the end of May. 473 also appears on a few Chama-Cumbres freights during that time.

In June it went back to Silverton for the tourist season.

473 wore the paint until a July 1951 derailment near Needleton, CO, required a trip to the Alamosa shops. It returned to service in June or July 1952, looking "normal" again.

The four passenger cars were the only narrow gauge equipment painted gold and silver until the 1955 season, when the "Silverton Train" went daily and all remaining cars were painted.

JAC