The "Modern" Locomotives at the Gathering of Victorian Locomotives

Back to the Gathering of Victorian Locomotives for Part 7 of our series. This week the 3 (4?) "modern" steam locomotives. From the 1880s and 1890s., these are modern compared to the locomotives from 1875.

First up, Denver and Rio Western 168. Built in 1883, the engine is Class T-12 by Rio Grande class system. Meaning T for ten-wheeler (4-6-0) and 12,000 pounds of tractive effort. Ment for passenger service, it had "huge" 46-inch drivers for a super-fast top speed of perhaps 60 miles per hour?

The loco we placed in a park in Colorado Springs in 1938. And in 2016 the locomotive was "loaned" to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad and restored. It resides mostly in Antineto Colorado but does turn up along the entire 62-mile long railroad.

Next up is Denver and Rio Grande C18 class number 425. C for consolation or 2-8-0 wheel arrangement with a tractive effort of 18,000 pounds. The C series was used in freight service except for the C-18 class intended for passenger service.

Better known as Denver and Rio Grande Western 315, the locomotive was built in 1895 by Baldwin for the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad in Colorado. It soon was bought by the Denver and Rio Grande and numbered 425. Later when the Rio Grande became the Denver and Rio Grande Western it was renumbered 315. For the event, it has been back-dated to its early look but normally appears as D and RGW 315. It was placed in the park in Durango Colorado in 1949. And given to the Durango Railroad Historical Society in 1998 and restored to operation in 2007. While it was hoped it would run out of Silverton Colorado, that didn't really happen and so is now on loan to the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad.

A quick glance at Denver and Rio Grande K-27 463. Built in 1903 and rebuilt in 2013 it is currently working on the east end of the Cumbres and Toltec AND painted as Rio Grande Southern 463. The Denver and Rio Grande Western operated the Rio Grande Southern for most of its life and it was seized and leased back by the Defence Department during WW2. It is currently painted in WW2 markings. Just some fun to look over, not part of the Gathering of Victorian Locomotives.

Also not part of the Gathering is Rio Grande Southern 20. Another 4-6-0 ten-wheeler. The locomotive is owned by the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden Colorado and was returned to operation a few weeks ago! Built in 1899 it's contemporary to the other locomotives. Also wearing its WW2 markings.

It showed up sort of unannounced as it's soooo NEW! It's been running on the short loop at the museum but is here testing if it can pull a train. And BOY! Can it pull a train! Anyway, it was fun to have it as part of the gathering, and although no rides were scheduled as part of the event, it did sell out several trips in the week following the event.