Re: Why the K-28s? U.S. Army & The White Pass in WW II

Assuming that someone in the Army actually knew what they were requisitioning, the K-28s would have had some definite advantages over the K-27s for the intended heavy service on the WP&Y.

The K-28s were newer - this is an easy call.

The K-27s had already been rebuilt several times. Some still had D-valves, some inboard piston valves, some outboard piston valves, and not all were superheated. By getting the K-28s instead, the Army gained a little standardization that allowed some common parts, maintenance proceedures and assignments in an otherwise mongrel fleet.

DRGW did salvage some parts before the WP&Y K-28s were scrapped, so some part of them may still survive in Durango.