Re: D&RGW 499

Now with operations at the C&TS being under AHR and the fact that K-37 fans will always have a better chance of seeing a "37"
on "better Turf" ( much friendler track conditions) the C&TS .The K-37 were never well suited for the Silverton Branch. If you talk to the shop force as I did when I worked there they say that 497 was so tight on curves for example on the high line that the "rigid stays would leak profusly until they almost got into Tacoma and then would seal up unexpectantly. I always thought the "37's were cool engines but they were not popular with the old "grande"heads. They broke spring hangers
like spitting busted "teeth" and they had the basic running gear from the K-36 with a c-41 big heavy antiquated boiler on board. When you find the degree of curvature on the Silverton Branch verses the Main Line and Farmington Branchs then you will see why the 497 did not work well on the D&S.

Even a supprise is the K-36 on the D&S. I would say and I'm not streching it, we broke at least several spring hangers a month on at
least two engines,all K-36s. As an example the K-28s have a keen style of flexing joint or a two piece hanger with an upper hanger and a joint
which allows the hangers to have less stress on those very sharp curves both on the high line and above MP 488 where the curves are slightly sharper. The guys in the shop[ talked about re engineering the same type
of hanger for the "36s" but to my knowledge it has never happened.Even the K-36 with all its sucess on the Silverton branch and the D&SNG was never designed for the K-36.