I am currently researching the stories of "hoodoo engines" on the Rio Grande narrow gauge. Many of you are familiar with "Dread 107," a fascinating legend first described in print in Munsey's Magazine in 1902, expanded in 1909, and then horrendously embellished by Railroad Stories Magazine in 1934.
My confusion comes from a discrepancy in the dates of the locomotive's demise. DRGW.net lists it as "Scrapped Burnham 31-Aug-1898." This fits the brief story told in Munsey's Magazine, but Colorado newspapers paint a different tale; the 23 July 1909 Montrose Daily Press, 24 July 1909 Longmont Call and 27 August Salida Record all claim that the locomotive was scrapped in 1909, each giving their own interpretation of the hoodoo legend. LeMassena's rosters in Rio Grande...to the Pacific! don't mention its retirement.
Could anybody provide insight into this dilemma?
In regards to the legend itself, I have only corroborated the first two supposed wrecks, when the 107 fell into the Gunnison River in May 1883 and then hit a rock in October of the same year after being rebuilt. It was only referred to as "ill-fated" by the Delta Chief, but not cursed. There is plenty of evidence, however, that D&RG 177, the T-12, was the real hoodoo engine, and the Salida Mail regularly remarked on this every time it was in for another rebuild or repair.
Thanks,
Josh Bernhard