We take a ride on 'The Silverton' in '1972'

Join us as we take a ride on the Denver and Rio Grande Western's "The Silverton" (Cue your version of C.W. McCall's 'Silverton Train' on your vinyl record player) as we take a ride on what could have been a version of the D&RGW's train 461/462 or 463/464 as it pounded the rails anytime after 1972 as event coordinator Russell at the Durango and Silverton recreated many details including the 'backward' tender heralds on the 476's fireman's side.

While on the other side of the Continental Divide, the fledgling Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad was getting its start, the Rio Grande continued the tradition of the Silverton service using the venerable K-28 470's built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) wearing those beautiful Diamond Stacks (Hey, Bell Bottoms were in, why not flared stacks, I mean, railfans like flared radiators on the SD45's, what makes these stacks any worse?)

Under the guidance of railroad event manager Russell Heerdt backdated K-28 #476 to its historically correct appearance of 1972. The tender received the correct ‘Flying’ Rio Grande Herald for 1972 onwards to accomplish this look. Yes, the herald of the fireman’s side ‘wrong way slanted’ is correct for the period. The rerailing frogs on the tender were painted yellow, the doghouse removed, while extra silver trim and larger railroad Roman numbers were added to the cab and number board below the headlight. Finally, the historically accurate diamond stack was reinstalled around the regular stack. Of course, when we say historically accurate, we do mean to the time, as these locomotives, built in 1923, unlike true 1880s locomotives, did not come with them as built. Other than aesthetics, the stacks served no purpose other than falsely backdating these modern steam locomotives back to the Wild West days. As a bit of a lightning rod, many in the older railfan community considered them a tacky addition to these locomotives. For those of us born too late though, there was an urge to see them reinstalled, but only for a short time.

To complete the train, a set of coaches and a gondola were re-lettered into the correct ‘circus font’ that spelled out the full name of the Denver and Rio Grande Western. Three of the 330 series of coaches home built by the Rio Grande at Burnham in 1963 and 1964 were turned to have their bathrooms on the leading edge, another detail noted by Heerdt to be correct for the era, though the blank panels on the cars that once held the coal burning stove has now been replaced with a second restroom facility. These steel cars would have been seen on the leading edge of the Grande and early D&S trains from their introduction. Following these cars was concession car 212, a bit modified from the 1972 season such as more window and roller bearings, but with the re-installation of a baggage door, it looks more like it should than it has for the last forty years. Coach 327, a modernized San Juan Coach brings up the rear of the enclosed cars, while gondola 412 brings up markers.