Russo Loco Wrote:
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> Several practical considerations have been pointed
> out regarding the restoration of #483, #492 and
> #497 that make a lot of sense. From a strictly
> operational point of view, I agree that putting
> #492's boiler on #497's running gear is probably
> the most cost-effective solution. But this
> compromises the historic integrity of both
> locomotives, which - in theory, at least - the
> commission is prevented from doing by its own
> charter. And of course it would be great to have
> at least one K-37 running again, no matter how
> this is accomplished. (Since #498 pulled the last
> D&RGW revenue freight over Cumbres, on August 29,
> 1968, my personal preference would be to trade
> #497 to the D&S for #498, and restore the
> latter.)
>
> My interest in #483 is mainly from a historical
> (and sentimental) perspective. In her D&RGW days,
> by all accounts I've read, she was a very good
> steamer, rode well, and was popular with the
> engine crews. For these reasons, she was one of
> the most-used engines in the last decade of Rio
> Grande's narrow-gauge operations. IIRC, she was
> one of only three K-36's equiped with a steam line
> for passenger service - which is probably why I
> have so many photos of her pulling at least one
> leg of each of the three-day Alamosa-Silverton
> round trips that I was lucky enough to ride in
> 1960, '62, '64 and '66. #483 was the helper on the
> last westbound D&RGW revenue freight, on August
> 28, 1968, and pulled the National Park Service
> Special eastbound from Durango to Alamosa in late
> November of that year. #483 also helped #473 pull
> #481 and the final load of equipment westbound
> from Alamosa in early December, 1968, and her
> light return from Chama to Alamosa on December 6,
> 1968, was the last D&RGW operation over Cumbres
> Pass.
>
> Number 483 was also the first engine used on the
> C&TS, being fired up on September 2, 1970 by the
> early-day volunteers, and she pulled the first
> C&TS train into Chama four days later. She powered
> several work trains and extras during the next two
> or three months, including the "Governor's
> Special" on October 4th, and was the motive power
> for the first few revenue passenger trains the
> following year. In addition to her regular service
> in 1972, she pulled the first "Moonlight Special"
> dinner trains to Osier on 8/25, 9/22 and 10/21,
> and - with #484 as helper - pulled the C&TS' first
> photo freight, the "Toltec Rattler", on October
> 22. She was a mainstay of C&TS operations until
> the mid-1970's when, the victim of deferred
> maintenance and over-use, she was set aside and
> eventually cannibalized to keep her sisters
> running (including #482, when later traded to the
> D&S).
>
> As you can see from the preceding two paragraphs,
> #483 had a special role in the transition years
> from the D&RGW to the C&TS, and IMHO deserves to
> be honored for her contributions by being fully
> restored to the peak of her operational status -
> dark green boiler jacket and all!
>
> - Russ
>
> p.s. IMHO, #483 & #484 should both be restored as
> examples of the height of narrow-gauge steam power
> - with dark-green jackets, older-style lettering
> with tri-color logos, etc., and used as the road
> engines on passenger trains as often as possible.
> The other K-36's and the K-37's can represent
> various other eras of D&RGW / C&TS ownership, and
> be used - as in the 'olden days' - primarily as
> helpers and/or on photo freights, etc. (And I
> wouldn't cry too hard if #487 or #489 could be
> traded to the D&S for a FULLY RESTORED #473, to
> complete the C&TS roster of all of the K-series
> engines.)
487 is not Going anywhere!!! I love her.
