461

I've always had a few unanswered questions about the mudhen #461, the last loco aquired by the Rio Grande Southern.

1. How much did they pay for it? The RGS was not exactly rolling in dough at that time and traffic was almost at a standstill. The price must have been really cheap, or did the D&RGW just give it to them to get rid of it?

2. What was wrong with it? At the time of purchase, the #461 was traveling to Alamosa to be scrapped because the D&RGW claimed it was "worn out". I realize that the D&RGW's concept of "worn out" could have been RGS's concept of "just broken in good". None the less, The RGS had it back into service in a relatively short period of time, and it appered to give good service to the RGS in it's last year of service, and did well for the scrappers the following year. It was offered for sale as a servicable loco, though no buyers came forward and was ultimatly scrapped in 1953.

3. Why the #461? In 1950, the D&RGW was planning on phasing out the uses for the mudhens and most of the class were becoming expendable. Why didn't the RGS go after the #452 or possibly the #464. Both the engines had recent overhauls (#452 in 1948, & #464 in 1949), and both were currently being leased for service on the RGS. Both engines went out of service after the suspension of service of the RGS (though the #464 was reactivated as the Durango swithcher). Either loco would have been preferrred over a "worn out" locomotive.

What are your thoughts?