Rio Grande's 486 was one of the first engines I saw at my first visit to the narrow gauge in 1958, when it and the 480 both steamed quietly beside the roundhouse in Durango. Later, it would be removed from service, to be parked with the other "junkers" at the Alamosa roundhouse, then trucked to the Royal Gorge for years of display. Eventually, both it and the 480 found their way back to Durango to be rebuilt and operate again. The old Durango yard I visited is no more, as is the D&RGW, but it's good to know these engines are still with us:http://www.ngdiscussion.net/cgi-bin/NGDFcook.pl?read=60826

Page 178 of "Rio Grande Narrow Gauge" by John W. Norwood (1983), states: "upon retirement, 485 was presented to Salida..."Heretofore thought to have been scrapped after it went into a turntable pit, does this mean that the (K36) 485 might still exist?

No, I think that printed statement goes under the heading of "misprint"....G

Parts of the 485 exist on other K-36-class locomotives. You can see "485" stamped on various running gear parts, rods, etc.

Other authors have published assertions that 485 was scrapped after a 1955 encounter with a turntable pit. I presume that a bent or twisted frame resulting from striking the floor of a turntable pit would end the 485's useful service life, but not its eligibility for static display. Mr. Norwood's listing of the 485 as donated to Salida would not rule out the possibility of swapped parts with other K36 engines.I'm hoping someone with access to the D&RGW's motive power records will post a response defining the disposition of Class K36 no. 485.Thanks.

That's right...485 is on display next to the Wal Mart in Salida. Nobody has yet seen it though, but we are sure it's there somewhere. It would be a swell restoration choice after the Royal Gorge is 3-railed.