rdamurphy you are right the 20 455 and 461 were pretty worn out, and would require significant repairs to operate anywhere else, And it would cost alot to ship them. But so did 41.
The RGS side lined 41 in 1950 for having paper thin mud legs in the firebox, and the tude time was up (Or close to it). He paid $4000 for 41, had the RGS to re-tube her and repair the firebox. Then he paid WAY more than $4000 to ship 41, and 0402 to CA. This was all done on his dime.
My point is that there where SOME people back then that COULD have spent the money to saved them. But as Donald Foster pointed out the interest was in 1880's equipment. (Wonder why he didn't buy the 20? Maybe he got out bid at the auction by the Rocky mountain RR Club.
)
My info for 41 came from "Sunset on the RGS" VOL 2.
In the end remember what did get saved!
Only 2 RGS loco's were lost to the torch at the end, that's not that bad. Consider what else could have been lost.
We are lucky that Knott at least saved 41, 0402, EDNA, and Goose #3.
We can thank RWR, Telluride, Dolores, Brinkerhof, Boulder,ect for saveing the others.
Long live the survivors and memories of the RGS.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/2011 09:39PM by Jeff Taylor.