Re: LIttle Mudhen

dougvv Wrote:
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> Hi,
>
> As I recall, the 375, 360 and 361 were all Little
> Mudhens.
>
> 375 was the sole member of class C-25. 360 and 361
> were both C-21. All three were ex-Crystal River
> RR.
>
> Although I do not recall where, (maybe CO Rail
> Annual 21 - Narrow Gauge News) I think Bob
> Richardson tried to purchase one (maybe 375?) and
> not long afterwards, (a few days?) it was cut up
> by D&RGW.
>
> I think the 375 was the heaviest loco that could
> operate through the Black Canyon. The K-27s could
> not. I believe that a dry K-27 could be towed
> through the canyon and yet I seem to recall there
> were very tight clearances.
>
> There is a video showing a K-27 and the 375
> working a single train up to Cerro Summit from
> Cimmeron. K-27s could not work Cimmeron to
> Gunnison.
>
> As a point of information, I think that nothing
> larger than the K-27 ever worked on the
> Cimmeron-Ouray-Montrose section. The only ways a
> K-27 could get there were 1) RGS, 2) dead and dry
> through the Black Canyon, and 3) via SG.
>
> K28, K36, and K37 (if there had ever been a need)
> would have had to come by SG. Also recall, K-27s
> were not allowed south of Ridgeway.
>
> How many K-27s were stationed at Montrose? I think
> only one. I also seem to recall that Bob
> Richardson wanted to purchase the Montrose K-27
> also but could only afford one of the two ng locos
> there.
>
> Doug vV

Out of Montrose, they generally had 3 Mudhens and 2 or 3 2-8-0's at any given time. In later years, the mudhens were the 3 remaining inward valve slanting engines #454, #456, & #461. The first to go, of course, was the #461 which was considered too worn out to fix. On it's trip over the RGS on its way to Alamosa for scrapping, the RGS, with their penchance for worn out locomotives bought it and returned it to sevice (they must have got it real cheap!). The next to go was the #456 which lasted until about 1952(?). The #454 stayed until the end of narrow gauge operations last being fired up in 1953 to move some cars around the yards.

The last 2-8-0's were the #317, #318, & #340. The #340 went to Knotts and the #317 & #318 were combined to make one good engine keeping the road # 318.