Re: US Army Diesel in Silverton

The 4700 was slightly before my time, but I did spend some time in Durango when the 3000 was there. Lt. Col. John Whitfield of the US Army Transportation Corps from Ft. Eustis, Va was in charge of the 3000 when it was being tested on the D&RGW. He and I corresponded for some time after I met him in Durango. That was when rail transportation still figured in war planning, and the Army was looking for a standard engine that would work with various gauges around the world. I don't think much came from that program.
I ended up in Ft Eustis in 1963 as a new second lieutenant and did see some limited steam activity on the base railroad. It was all standard gauge. I have no idea what remains of that facility, but they had complete passenger and freight trains on a double track mainline that wound around the base much like a Christmas tree layout which was set up just for training operating crews. The railroad battalion stationed there was supposed to be able to operate any railroad in any gauge if needed.