Re: Early photo of D&RGW locomotive 482

The photograph was taken by D&RGW Company Photographer George Beam. 482 was the first K-36 completed and is shown in Salida soon after delivery in July 1925..

There are several details on 482 that got changed over the years. BLW's "owner's manual" of the K-36 specifies "Black Paint & Aluminum Lettering" Sorry no green. The engine was also lettered with standard gauge sized lettering which is larger than the normally used fonts applied to narrow gauge locomotives. There is a full armrest that fills the space in the window openings. To close the windows, you have to remove that arm rest. Armrests got lost easily that way. Also the engines were equipped with "drop seats" like you find on 315. One on the right side, two on the left - one for the head end brakeman. For years 488 carried her original BLW interior cab wood which included the mounting bracket of the forward drop seats.

The engines were built with obsolete A-1 brakes with a G-6 brake valve - again like 315. One presumes this was because it was standard on the rest of the narrow gauge. Lubrication was supplied by two hydrostatic lubricators in the cab - a 4-feed unit for the cylinders and valves and a one feed for the air compressor. After WWII the air brakes were upgraded to 6-ET and mechanical lubricators were applied to the engines.

There are other changes applied through the years. The blow down linkage was one, The drifting throttle/water brake plumbing was another. Canvas window awnings were another.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 12:37PM by Earl.