To answer a few questions, sorta, 315 started its long run as the Durango switcher in the early 1940's, around the time (I think shortly after) 271 was sold to MLC (12/41).
345 was used out of Gunnison until the Black Canyon line was abdn (5/31/49) then shopped (in Salida, IIRC) and sent to Durango to replace 315
As to 452, as noted by another poster, she was used on the RGS as early as 1925-26. However how many, and which, K-27's the RGS was using changed constantly. In the early years of the Miller era they were all returned to the D&RGW once all 6 usable RGS engines (20, 22, 25,40,41,42) were back in service and were mostly only used (rented) in high traffic periods. like stock rushes, for the rest of the 1930's. Most often seen on the RGS in the mid 1930's was 455. Once the receiver was changed leased D&RGW engines became more and more common. I think all 15 were used at on the RGS at some time or another between 1925 and 1951. As for 452, she made her last run (Delores to Durango) 11/30/51 and, AFAIK, then was set aside in the yard, with parts being removed, until she was scrapped in 1954.
I've lost the link but there was(is?) an RGS site on the web with a nice graphic representation of which K-27's were on the RGS and for what months from around WWII until 1951.
Hank
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2020 04:05PM by hank.