Re: Rail weights versus axle loads in the 1870's

As has been mentioned, the D&RG was in financial difficulties in 1873 when it was time for Baldwin to deliver the "Mosca" #13. This 2-8-0 had drivers equally spaced with flanges on all wheels. This would have made the "Mosca" too rigid for the Rio Grande's curves and 30 pound iron rails. When the first Class 56s arrived in 1877, this problem had been solved by placing the two center sets of drivers as close as possible, making them flangless and giving them a 6" wide tread. This way the inside drivers would not drop between the rails on sharp curves.

The #13 spot on the early roster was initally filled by the English Fairlie named "Mountaineer", which arrived in June 1873. The 0-4-4-0T was renumbered #101 in about 1876 and in 1881 was again renumbered #1001 in order to make room for a new 4-4-0 (Class 42) that was #101. The "Mountaineer" was not popular on the D&RG for many reasons. She was too wide for clearences, had very limited coal and water capacity.The addition of a tender,made from an 8 ton flat car with an oval tank helped. But she still leaked steam. These problems seem to confined her use to construction trains on the LaVeta Pass line and was out of service (1883) and for sale by 1887. She was scrapped in 1888.

All of this, including photographs will be part of a new, large new book: D&RG...THE EARLY YEARS (1871-1921)that I've been working on for the past 20 years.tHE "Mountaineer" did play one important role in the Royal Gorge War of the late 1870s.