It looks like we will have a K-27 back before we all expected it. As for 463's usefulness, it is perfect for helper service and when helped by a 36, can make the entire line quite well. For her use, maybe, instead of trying to sell her to the D&SNG or whatever, talk the City of Antonito into letting her go to Durango for Railfest or something.
With 483, she is not a lost cause. A previous poster mentioned switching parts as needed. This is EXACTLY what the D&RGW did in the times that they ran the line. 464 has 454's boiler and 463 has an eccentric asssembly from 464.
492 is reputed to be in quite good shape which I do not doubt. Her condition can be attributed to Navajo Rock that gave her a major overhaul. She actually has the entire front end of 490 from that rebuild.
Though the D&S blamed 497 for track problems, she in NO BIGGER in wheelbase and only 150 pounds heavier on the engine than ANY 36. Her tender weighs like 20,000 pounds more when loaded but that should not cause the kind of problems the D&S claims it caused.
476 is a sad situation. BUT, may I call attention to the fact that ALL engines in the UK are required to have a boiler lift at overhaul. As for being a replica after the major refit, no engine running today has all original parts. Take 3751: she has a new boiler, frame, drivers, cylinders, and tender, ALL of which came from the Santa Fe. But is she a replica? No, because that is historically accurate for the engine.
As for 494 and 495, it might be neat to see one of them back on the standard gauge as that is a historically acurate configuration. Yeah, I would like to see the San Juan run again in the C&TS, but for right now, what we can do is pave the way for that to happen by patronizing both the D&S and C&TS and by helping to get all of the down engines back on the road.
Now that I am done blowing off, I am ready to move off of the ready track.
