A brief history - D&RGW baggage car #163

Baggage car 163 was one of eight (8) baggage cars that were rebuilt during the 1936 / 1937 modernization for San Juan and Shavano Express. The baggage cars included:

111, 127, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 169

The baggage cars were slightly longer than the standard narrow gauge baggage cars, 44 feet in length, open platform, and equipped with a Delco Light Plant which provided electricity for the coach and parlor car’s electric lights. Other passenger cars included six (6) RPO’s, eight (8) Closed Vestibule Coaches, and five (5) Parlor Cars. The San Juan train ran from February 11, 1937 until January 31, 1951 as train numbers 115 and 116.

After the San Juan was discontinued the baggage cars were no longer needed. 168 ended up at the Museum in Golden. The others were believed scrapped, except for a few whispers of two survivors in farmers’ fields. Grant Houston did a great job locating one or both of them. Don Shank Jr. purchased of the of San Juan baggage cars and the Friends of the C&TS recently purchased 163.

Kevin