Rio Grande steam engines tended to "work to their graves", ending up in Pueblo, and then being pulled up to the hill to be added to the blast furnace.
-Superpower Railroad of the Rockies [Le Massena]
I assume the narrow gauge was similar, items ended up in gondola's headed over La Veta pass and then on to Pueblo.
In the early 50's as the steam engines were being retired, there was a vast production shift to re-arm at the start of the Korean War. The Rio Grande did the right thing and put scrapped engines into the war effort.
-Nick