Re: Hoodoo locomotives and railroad superstitions (D&RG 107)

To my knowledge, the only 2 big engines to invert themselves in a derailment were 489, 483, 497 and 498. 489's wreck was in April of 1926. She was only 6 months old. She hit a broken rail just down hill from MP 336, and went over side before she could get stopped. 492 got into a couple of good smashups, but stayed upright in the process.

Concerning 451, she blew up in the early 1920's. The K27 rebuild program did not get under way until 1925. So, 451 was rebuilt "old style" which was the way the rest of them were. My feeling is that was 451's downfall. I think the K27's were run through the rebuild program as they came do for major shopping. 451 would not have needed major work for a few years. By then, the Grande had K36's and some new K37's and dropped the program, leaving 451 behind.