Re: Re-Lettering #463 for Daily Service - NOT!!
| December 05, 2012 06:36PM |
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Hi, Rich -
IMHO, there are two reasons why #463 is likely to retain her classic 1930's D&RGW lettering & herald:
1. Eight of the nine remaining K-36's were in regular operation during 2012: four owned by the D&S and - probably for marketing purposes - lettered as such, and four owned by the C&TS and likewise lettered to reflect their ownership.
2. Therefor #463 is much less likely to be used in regular service and thus less frequently seen, photographed or video'd by non-railfan tourists - making her a much less effective tool for marketing the C&TS to the general public.
Incidentally, here are some examples of the kind of stunning re-creations of histöric photos that foamers are missing out on because the four operational C&TS K-36's have been re-lettered from 'Rio Grande' to 'Cumbres & Toltec' since the 2009 season -
Switching cars on or off the dark green 'San Juan' in Chama, circa 1948 (note than this was before the slanting-the-wrong-way fireman's side logo was applied to the engineer's side of #487's tender):
A typical five-car dark green 'San Juan' eastbound above Hamilton's Point, circa 1946:
The westbound dark green 'San Juan' whistling for Apache Crossing, circa 1949:
#489 with a long string of drop-bottom gons, circa 1953:
#489 - with specially-painted trim for work-train service - pushing a string of drop-bottom gons, circa 1957:
- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2012 06:51PM by Russo Loco.
IMHO, there are two reasons why #463 is likely to retain her classic 1930's D&RGW lettering & herald:
- #463 is a unique museum piece, one of only two in existence and the only one in 'home territory'.1
- #463's TE is only 3/4 that of a K-36; she can't pull a normal ten-car train from Chama to Cumbres by herself.2
1. Eight of the nine remaining K-36's were in regular operation during 2012: four owned by the D&S and - probably for marketing purposes - lettered as such, and four owned by the C&TS and likewise lettered to reflect their ownership.
2. Therefor #463 is much less likely to be used in regular service and thus less frequently seen, photographed or video'd by non-railfan tourists - making her a much less effective tool for marketing the C&TS to the general public.
Incidentally, here are some examples of the kind of stunning re-creations of histöric photos that foamers are missing out on because the four operational C&TS K-36's have been re-lettered from 'Rio Grande' to 'Cumbres & Toltec' since the 2009 season -
Switching cars on or off the dark green 'San Juan' in Chama, circa 1948 (note than this was before the slanting-the-wrong-way fireman's side logo was applied to the engineer's side of #487's tender):
A typical five-car dark green 'San Juan' eastbound above Hamilton's Point, circa 1946:
The westbound dark green 'San Juan' whistling for Apache Crossing, circa 1949:
#489 with a long string of drop-bottom gons, circa 1953:
#489 - with specially-painted trim for work-train service - pushing a string of drop-bottom gons, circa 1957:
- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2012 06:51PM by Russo Loco.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.