I’m all for restoration of this locomotive. Even better is if it is operational on the C&TS. I kept a eye on locomotive 223 each time I traveled from Denver to Ogden doing field service work for my employer during most of the 1990’s. A trip to the Ogden train station was a necessary stop on the way back to the SLC airport. Each trip I hoped to see more progress on restoration since I knew a local group was using volunteers to help restore the locomotive. I’m from the generation that witnessed railroad companies donating locomotives to towns for display. Good business relationships with the town thing. It is my experience these displays became nothing more than public urinals and it seemed that what little cosmetic maintenance The locomotive got was from very few individuals, model railroad clubs, or Boy Scouts. I lived in Durango when D&RGW 315 Was located next to the run down Chamber of Commerce building and became a public dump and a place for some to pee. The firebox was full of trash. My hometown of Boulder, CO had The narrow gauge Locomotive DB&W 30 isolated and forgotten in a town that was not really interested in the train in the park. I am glad there are people that championed the restoration of D&RGW 315, and now 168 In Antonito to name just a few. Maybe 223 can be added to the list. I’m all for it. It is exciting and very special to a lot of people. The people that champion these efforts have my admiration same as all the individuals that championed the start up of the now C&TS railroad way back in the early 1970’s. Something of interest to me is how there is an obvious effective technique to pulling off an expensive restoration by seeking donations, grants, and coordinating a lot of labor. It is a model of restoration that becomes something of value for not only the next restoration of a one of a kind locomotive like 223, or even maintenance of existing and operating K36, and K37 locomotives. It is obvious someone or a small group of individuals knows how to make restorations happen. Restoration of locomotive 168 is a good recent example. I’m so glad there are people in the world that want to see steam locomotives running on track instead of rotting away in a town park. If you want to see classic narrow gauge railroading and D&RGW 223 doing its job, take a look at DPL Western History photo by Otto Perry OP-7763, July 4, 1940.
