Gentlemen:
First I want to say whether RGS 455 gets rear numbering or other minor details for the RGS recreation(s) is not a show stopper and I think I can speak for most “foamers & rivet counters” that we are extremely pleased with all the efforts that have gone into bringing this event to fruition.
There have been several comments regarding the rear numbering that I think need some additional fleshing out which hopefully you will indulge me in this further discussion.
First off it has been stated in the excursion advertising that “D&RGW 463 will be lettered with the Rio Grande Southern sunrise herald and numbered 455 to represent how she looked between 1941 and 1943.” Both Don Bergman and myself utilizing his RGS database of published photos cannot locate a single photo showing the rear of the tender in this time period so my argument is based on circumstantial evidence. In full disclosure the one photo that might be the best potential evidence taken after the wreck of 455 (November 1943) is inconclusive as the tender rear is in shadow (see Dorman collection RD147-004).
Now please note that the D&RGW flying Rio Grande logo and large rear tender numbering was in evidence on K-27s as early as August 1940 (see #464 in Mudhens page 128), #459 July 5, 1941 (Mudhens page 93) and #461 August 3, 1941 (Mudhens page 109).
Now we can also see from photos that from 1939 when acquired in trade from the D&RGW that the RGS simply painted out the D&RGW lettering until 455 was repainted/ lettered with the sunrise RGS herald in June 1941. Was it just a coincidence then that the 455 would get repainted/ lettered in the same time frame that the D&RGW was applying flying Rio Grande logos? The RGS would most likely have been aware of the D&RGW flying Rio Grande lettering diagram which used a large rear tender number well in advance of the RGS June 1941 repaint/ lettering. Further, I find it hard to believe that the RGS shop would make an exception just for 455 and not have the engine number on the tender when all other engines and even MOW tenders had their number on the rear tender tank (even prior to 1941).
A couple of other paint lettering details to add more “fuel to the fire” are I believe I see that the RGS June 1941 paint/ lettering added silver to the beaded top edge of the tender tank similar to the #40 & 41 of this time frame. And then to throw another monkey wrench into the mix please refer again to the Mudhens book (page 134) for a July 1942 view of RGS 455 which shows Defense Supplies lettering on both the cab and tender. My initial thought was that the recreations represented a 75 year time machine so the exact “time machine clock” is turned back to September 4-6, 1942.
Thoughts?
Rod Jensen
P.S. What is the staus of getting some radial class lamps for these (and other C&TS) excursions? In my last conversation with Woody Kirkman he was close to having his reproduction lamps ready.