Re: Replica motive power *** correction ***

Kevin said:

As to what prototypes to be selected for replication, I again move for C&S #70 - a real oil burner, the only one the C&S narrow gauge had, and it became synonomous with the Clear Creek branch, of which the rebuilt Loop was a part. This would allow for a replica of an oil burner, since oil burners must be used I have heard, that actually ran on the Clear Creek - as to whether or not the 70 ran over the Loop as an oil burner I cannot recall, but still, close enough.
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According to recent research done by Hol Wagner, author of The Colorado Road, All of the 2-6-0's from Numbers 4 to 11 were converted to oil at or near the time of their reboilering and rebuilding in 1908. Granted, this conversion was very short lived and is not part of the "Historic Consciousness" of the recent generation.

However, the AFE's for conversion and reconversion have been found, as well as newspaper accounts of these conversions. SO if you're looking for a prototype to convert to oil, there is an entire class for you. One can use the 9 as the prototype. With a modern boiler and slightly different dome caps, you have the class pretty well covered.

Photos taken by Otto Perry and others clearly show the 70 on the high bridge of the loop with train in tow so yes, there is precedent for using 2-8-0's on the Loop Line. Along with this consider the fact that 71-73 were originally UPD&G locomotives and were assigned to South Park service only after the advent of the C&S. You now have precedent for the 2nd and 3rd largest 2-8-0 3' gauge locomotives that the C&S owned elegible for reproduction.

But let's dream a bit here. If the locomotives were reproduced, and successful, don't start with one, make at least 3, as the wheelbase (driver spacing) is the same for all classes of C&S 2-8-0's with the exception of the ex-DB&W 2-8-0's (74-76). This would give needed backup power and the same casting patterns could be amortized over the cost of 3 locomotives instead of just one.

Rick