Re: Rgs 20 books.

20s cylinders are part of her great history. I have the paperwork in my collection regarding her needing new cylinders. This paperwork also states all engines have good cylinders(though needing to be re-bored) except 20. Maybe I should scan them. They are an interesting insite into the poor condition of all the engines in 1935.

20 had a crack of some sort in the saddles, and nothing they tried would hold more than a few trips before leaking again. November 1st 1935, Forest White states "no doubt new cylinders and saddles is the only sure way". By January the cylinders are on their way to Ridgway. January 9 1936 White states that he doesn't think 20 will be back in service before March 1st, if then.
20s cylinders have December 1935 casting dates.

From what I have seen 25 didn't receive new cylinders. As to why 20 and 25 look like they have cylinders mounted at the same hight who knows. Insert any number of theories. 20 and 25 were built consecutively in 1899 as F&CC 20 and 21. RGS 22 was built in 1900 as F&CC 24. 22 could have had a different cylinder casting than the earlier locos, it is possible Schenectady made a design change. Or maybe 22 received new cylinders early on. We may never know.

What I want to know is were the original cylinders a separate casting than the saddles? The RGS referring to then as saddles and cylinders seem to infer that. The current cylinders are 2 pieces a left and right with the cylinder and saddle together.

Jeff Taylor
CRRM curator of equipment and rolling stock.