No. 9

Joch:
Thanks for the link to your site.
That picture of No.9 is a nice one. Not long after this picture was taken, the engine was moved back to Hill City. She was still under the ownership of the Burlington (Northern, having only been leased to the little tourist operation there.
We have covered this a couple times on this page, but for the benefit of anyone who is interested and doesn't know, the 9 was never operated under her own steam in Hill City, only used for display and as a public toilet. She was designated "Chief Crazy Horse" by the CB&Q and operated at the 1949 Chicago Railroad Exposition. This was done, presumably, to highlight the Q's 3 foot operations in the Dakotas, which had ended years earlier. Too bad they didn't save the 537 for this event and return No.9 to Denver where she belonged after the 1939-40 World's Fair in New York City.
Also operating at the 1949 Exposition was the "Montezuma", aka DRGW #268, who also sported a fake diamond stack and improbable paint scheme. That one seems to have caught on, though.
Anyway, it is almost a miracle the 9 and other equipment was saved at all. And another that it was brought home. The 9 now has an almost brand-new Ridgway spark arrestor, thanks to the 74's caretakers in Boulder, who have loaned it to her.
Mike