Jerry Day Wrote:
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>
> Also, the war was over and traffic was way down
> and the D&RGW did not need them anymore.
>
> Jerry Day
The selling off/retiring of the equipment worn out during the war was very widespread. The other railroad which operated such Alco 2-8-2s, the Oahu Railway, had a worn out (by the war) railroad that was then blasted by a Tsunami in 1946. The "last ride" on the main was pulled by one of their K-28 clones at the end of 1947, having almost undoubtly been the busiest narrow gauge in the nation less than three years earlier (trains on its double track, Automatic Block Signaled mainline ran at 5 minute headways, 28 of which were daily scheduled trains).
I think it says something about both the condition and suitability of the K-28s in Alaska that the WP&Y turned down the option to purchase them, instead buying new 2-8-2s. (thanks for the nice discussion on the counterweights and such!)
Michael