SebJ Wrote:
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> Is there some explanation about the fact that DRGW
> donated several narrow gauge engines, but no
> standard gauge engines ? Thus 683 beeing the only
> DRGW surviving standard gauge steam, via San Luis
> Southern RR (per drgw.net)
> Was the scrap value a reason to donate lighter
> engines ?
Shooting from the hip here.
Aside from the scrap value, already addressed by others, 3' gauge engines up for scrap the 1950's were generally older and "cuter" than the standard gauge ones. Note that none of the k-27's were preserved back then, just the C and T classes. By the 1950's the oldest D&RGW std ga. engines extant were the C-48's from 1906-08, all the 19th century power was already gone.
I have also heard that a certain official of the D&RGW in the early 1950's was down on steam engine preservation because it was thought that having hordes of old steamers all over the place with the company on 'em would detract from the modern, up to date, image the company wanted to present. The same man was said to have taken that policy with him to the NYC, resulting in a noteworthy shortage of engines preserved from that company as well. I'd have to rank that as a rumor however.
In general I have noticed, over the years, a tendency in preservation to concentrate on older items as being somehow more historic while more recent ones aren't worth saving. Note the paucity of preserved 1st generation diesels and even fewer 2nd generation units. (are we into 4th generation yet?) Still, there has to be some reason why none of the modern steam engines of some popular roads, like D&RGW or NYC for example, were saved while others roads, AT&SF, GN & UP all come to mind here, engines were saved in comparatively large numbers . Management bias towards/against preservation does seem a reasonable possibility.
hank
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2018 09:26AM by hank.