BC&F #1

Joe Weigman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> company. The BC&F is thought by some as just an
> RGS spur but they owned their own locomotive as
> well, a Class 57 Ex. D&RG 56, Ex. RGS 35.
>
Nit Pick Warning:

Class 56 Blt by Baldwin Const #5200 1880 as D&RG #80 "Chico" to D&RGW Ry #80 7/12/1886 later RGW #80, to RGS #35 1891, to BC&F #1 1901
Serious doubt exists as to this engine ever operating as RGS 35. It seems all (most?) of the Class 56 engines from the RGW were taken to Burnham and shopped before they went to the RGS, #35 may not have made it out of the shop before the Silver Panic and then just sat until the BC&F bought it (sources vary). After the RGS leased the BC&F line it was lettered for RGS, even thought they didn't own it. Some sources say it was scrapped in 1913, others that somebody realized that it wasn't really an RGS engine so it sat at Ridgway until the mid 1920's when it was finally scrapped. which would make it among the last surviving Class 56 engines, btw.

"Never ran as RGS #35" and "sat at Ridgway until the mid 1920's" are both from more recent sources.

Hank

PS all of that after the 1st sentence is from memory, I've been beating my rugs and I feel lazy.