As far as putting a Rio Grande herald on an SP engine, I see it as only fair. After all, there was a time when the SP "took over" the D&RGW and put the "SP" on a bunch of D&RGW locomotives.
Seriously though, 1744 is a great looking locomotive and Earl and crew deserve a lot of credit for putting her into service. I can't wait to see it run and ride across La Veta behind it. True, it would be better (and more authentic) to make the trip behind a D&RGW P-44 or an M-64, but seeing as how the Rio Grande did not see fit to save any of those steamers, the 1744 is the next best thing.