Jerry474 Wrote:
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> The RIo Grande went all out when it donated some
> of the narrow gauge engines. It laid some third
> rail in front of the Colorado Springs depot and
> had 168 fired up and placed an 1800 class 4-8-4
> next to it. D&RGW officials spoke at the donations
> in Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, and Alamosa.
>
I note in passing that all of those were before the era when Mr. Perlman seemed to be running the railroad to suit himself. In fact they were all before diesels were the big thing, at least on D&RGW.
The late 1940's and early 1950's were a different world.
I do suspect there was a stronger desire for 3' gauge equipment because it was smaller and "cuter."
It should also be remembered that there was opposition to putting engines on display in some towns, Durango comes to mind here. Not a surprise that some engines saved for display all those years ago wind up getting scrapped by people who just see them as junk when that position was taken by some from the beginning.
Hank