Re: 486 at Royal Gorge

Hi Guys Colorado Narrow Gauger in Bavarian Exile here...When I worked at the D&S 90-94 I scoped out the 486 and gave Steve Jackson Photos. What I found those days that the engine was complete minus Steam gauge, one valve spindle on the spuirt hose in the cab and the overflow valve body on the firemans injector...the tender tank was scrap...the crown sheet had stalagtites (sp?) which come from ash fusing to dripping staybolts...the driver tires were all under condeming limits (1 5/8") and most of the ponny, trailing truck and tender wheels were condeming...
Hopefully the D&S did'nt spare the cost of new tires like they did with the "Afterbirth of the 482". But under the new ownership I'm sure they did it right, wish I could have been there. Someday in the Future when I get a new computer and scanner I'll post pictures of the restoration of the 40 and 482 as well as standard winter work in Durango. The guys in the shop work wonders and they repeat them every year.
Back to the 486 I suppect that the Grand ran the girl into her knees before parking her, the crown sheet problem is interesting as it implies she ran with low water an scortch her sheet late in service. I saw simular stuff when D&S ran a summer with very green firemen...but the 486 was well preserved due to the remotness and dryness, she even had her orginal westinghouse brakegauges, headlight lenses and D&RGW whistle...
For those how saw the test run did D&S camaflage the 486 like they did the 482? The 482 ran trips lettered 481 and 480. I'd like to see one C&TS or D&S now run a trip with the 485...
Habe die Ehre
Thor