The Rio Grande Southern #41, an 1881 Baldwin built 2-8-0 originally built for the D&RGW has recently been steamed up and testing at Durango following a rebuild.

This is one of 2 D&RGW locomotives that are owned and operated by Knotts Berry Farm in California. Looks like the 41 will be returning to Knotts soon - she's looking great. Check out Instagram or the narrow gauge forum for photos, I wish I was out there to see this!

Here are some photos.

Whoa!!! I didn’t realize it went all the way to Cascade. I know why they couldn’t do it easily but I would have paid lots of $$$ to see and / or ride on her home rails. I’ve got photos from the berry farm though so I shouldn’t be too upset.

Yep she went to Cascade on Sunday the 19th. Friday the 17th she ran light to Rockwood, Saturday the 18th she to Rockwood again but, with Gon 402 and caboose 0540. Sunday they added coach 332 to the consist and because she was performing so well it was decided to take her to Cascade. We even did a runby at the high bridge. I got lucky enough to fire her a little on Sunday below Rockwood, she runs like a dream and fires very well.

And I'll add to the mix some video of her on those break-in runs. The link was forwarded to me by a former college roommate who'd worked at Knott's while he was in high school.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mZjja7MzDc
..........mld

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Pretty much describes Cedar Fair's (Knott's parent company) to a tee. Somewhere I have described when one of the Cedar Point & Lake Eire's employees posted some photos of some boiler work being done on one of the Vulcans. In a nutshell it got ugly....

Kelly I don't think it needs to be any real secret. The Knott's manager in charge of the railroad and was in Durango didn't understand why the company was being secretive about the project. We all asked about posting photos and he said he didn't care. We all thought that the company should make a point to show they are willing to spend BIG money to properly rebuild a locomotive. I pointed out that hiding what was going on didn't make a difference, those of us who actually care about this equipment already know what was going on. His eyes were also opened to how popular the railroad equipment is beyond being a theme park ride. He was shocked at how many folks traveled to Durango to just have a chance to see 41 make a test run, and that was with out any advertising.

Much like in years past with CRRM, KBF and the DRHS, there was great cooperation between different groups/organizations. Of course it should be no surprize that I care deeply for the 41 and 340 and the rest of the equipment at KBF. that of course meant I wanted to help however I could, weather on my own account or through CRRM.

Anyway. 41 received a similar amount of work as 20 did. Knott's had started the rebuild years ago and had replaced tires on 3 out of the 4 drivers. The jacketing and lagging had been removed, ect.
The D&S removed the boiler from the frame. The frame was not as bad as 20s, but it wasn't straight and square. The distance in between the frames was not consistent, 1 or 2 additional cross members were fabricated. One was installed where there must have been one before, and that the Grande had removed. In fact 346 has the same spot where a cross member was at some point. (Today it would require modifying the ash pan to put one back.) Brocken frame bolts that we couldn't replace when I was at the farm were replaced. Old D&RG/RGS welds were ground out and rewelded. The pony truck was completely rebuilt including new wheels, all suspension was gone through, the usual driver box work. The axles were replaced on the #3 and #4 drivers. New shoes and wedges were cast from CRRM patterns. Cylinders were bored, a new more accurate boiler tube pilot was made, as well as a new steel pilot beam. Valve gear was rebuilt. New link were made, new eccentric straps were cast, And yes CRRM ordered some as spares for 20 and 346.

The boiler received the usual work. New front tube sheet, firebox side sheet replacement or patchwork, new interior door sheet, new dry pipe, new smoke box. The DRHS loaned their pattern for new firebox doors. CRRM, DRHS, KBF, C&TS, and one other entity went in together to have new smoke stack and stack bases made. New steam delivery pipes were cast for the smoke box, CRRM ordered a set for 346 as well. She now has 2 proper reflex type water glasses, a new Von Boden style burner, new firing valve with quadrant. An SRC lifting injector on the fireman's side.

The cab was gone through and for added coolness it was lined with wood, and painted a proper shade of cab green. The rear cab doors had windows added, 2 additional windows were also added to the rear cab wall. Bernie Watts rebuilt both air pumps, the dynamo, and hydrostatic lubricator. I made a new proper sized number plate. Of course the brakes were completely gone through, all new plumbing. CRRM also provided some additional components for the air brakes, as well as partnering with the D&S on a large order of gaskets from Wabco.

The tender was rebuilt. The frame is new, the trucks were rebuilt and the truck bolster of one of them is new construction. The tender tank is new, though you wouldn't know that looking at it. The D&S sorta did what Knotts did ages ago but better. Long ago Knott's cut out and replaced the tops and bottoms of the tanks and then welded in a new inner wall. So no water has touched the old exterior tanks walls for many decades now. The D&S went a bit further. They had a new tank built then amazingly, wrapped the old tank skin(Sides and rear wall.) around the new one and welded them together. This once again gives you the reliability of a new tank while retaining the historic fabric and look with all the patches of the original tank. I love that.

Thank you for the write up Jeff, super fascinating and really speaks volumes to KBF that they went that far with the rebuild. How long had it been since 41 had prior run?

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Knotts could make some serious money that way, but I suspect they may be hesitant to start shipping around one of their major assets. (Also, I suppose "serious money" to a railroad museum is chump change for Knotts)