D&RGW K-37
| Denver & Rio Grande Western K-37 | |
|---|---|
|
D&RGW #491 at Colorado Railroad Museum | |
| Type and origin | |
|
References:[1][2] Dimensions are as rebuilt unless noted | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Build date | 1902 |
| Rebuilder | D&RGW Burnham Shops |
| Rebuild date | 1928–1930 |
| Number rebuilt | 10 |
| Specifications | |
| Configuration |
Original: 2-8-0 Rebuilt: 2-8-2 |
| UIC classification | 1′D1′ h2 |
| Gauge |
Original: 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Rebuilt: 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
Original: unknown Rebuilt: 28 in (711 mm) |
| Driver diameter |
Original: 55 in (1,397 mm) Rebuilt: 44 in (1,118 mm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
Original: none Rebuilt: 28 in (711 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Length | 41.1 ft (12.5 m) |
| Width | 10.4 ft (3.2 m) |
| Height |
Engine: 13.3 ft (4.1 m) Tender: 13.5 ft (4.1 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 183,920 pounds (83,420 kg) |
| Boiler pressure | 195 psi (1.34 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 21 in × 30 in (533 mm × 762 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Performance figures | |
| Tractive effort | 37,100 lbf (165 kN) |
| Locomotive brake | Air |
| Train brakes | Air |
| Career | |
| Operator(s) | DRGW, D&SNG, C&TS |
| Class |
D&RG: 190 D&RGW: C-41 after rebuild: K-37 |
| Number(s) | 490–499 |
| Locale | Colorado and New Mexico |
| Disposition | Eight preserved; two (#490, 496) scrapped |
Denver & Rio Grande Western K-37s are 2-8-2, Mikado type, narrow gauge steam locomotives. They were originally built by Baldwin as part of an order for thirty standard gauge 2-8-0, Consolidation type, locomotives, class 190, in 1902. They were renumbered into class C-41 during the railroad's reorganization in 1924 and were converted to three foot gauge in 1928-30 at the railroad's Burnham Shops with many new parts including new frames and smaller drivers. They were then renumbered into class K-37.
The locomotives are of outside-frame design, with the driving wheels placed between the two chassis frames which support the boiler, but with the cylinders, driving rods, counterweights and valve gear on the outside. This general arrangement is shared with the earlier K-27, K-28 and K-36 Mikado engines.
The locos worked out of Salida, Colorado to Gunnison, Colorado and up the Crested Butte Branch as well as the Monarch Branch. The locos also worked out of Alamosa, Colorado to Antonito over Cumbres Pass to Chama and on to Durango and the Farmington Branch. Like the K-36s the locos were not permitted West of Gunnison or on the Silverton branch. However, the Silverton branch has since been upgraded to take K-36s.
Of the eight preserved K-37s, only #497 has been operational, both on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad but it is now awaiting a major overhaul. However, as of 2014, engine #491 is under restoration at the Colorado Railroad Museum and is in reportedly excellent condition. On Saturday, September 13, 2014 the #491 operated for the public for the first time at the Colorado Railroad Museum, providing the motive power for the annual Thomas the Tank Engine event.
Although the K-37s are actually about 2% lighter than the K-36s, they have proven to be much harder on track. Although the D&S originally owned four of the K-37s, they found that the longer engines were too hard on their track, so they traded #497 to the C&TS for K-36 #482 and #499 to Royal Gorge Park in Canon City for #486.
Roster[3][4][5]
| Class K-37 Number |
Class 190 Number |
Class C-41 Number |
Builder's Number |
Rebuilt in |
Current Owner |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 490 | 1114 | 1014 | 20695 | 1928 | n/a | Retired 1962 Dismantled 1963-64 |
| 491 | 1126 | 1026 | 20829 | 1928 | Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden | Retired 1963, Operable. The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden debuted its newest steam locomotive on Saturday. August 30. 2014 The K-37 is the largest operating narrow gauge steam locomotive in the Western hemisphere. The locomotive was put away earlier than the rest because it's throttle leaked and it was taken out of service in good condition. Acquired by History Colorado in 1970, moved to the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1985. Ownership of the engine was transferred to the museum in 2013, and in August 2014 the locomotive came back to life. |
| 492 | 1121 | 1021 | 20749 | 1928 | C&TS | To C&TS 1970 |
| 493 | 1105 | 1005 | 20550 | 1928 | D&SNG | Retired 1970 To D&SNG 3/1981 At Freight House Museum, Silverton |
| 494 | 1120 | 1020 | 20748 | 1928 | C&TS | Retired 1962 To C&TS 1970 |
| 495 | 1104 | 1004 | 20522 | 1928 | C&TS | Retired 1962 To C&TS 1970 |
| 496 | 1123 | 1023 | 20751 | 1930 | n/a | Dismantled 1/31/1955. Subject of an April Fools' Day hoax stating that it had been discovered intact in a barn near Salida, Colorado.[6] |
| 497 | 1103 | 1003 | 20521 | 1930 | C&TS | To D&SNG 3/1981, restored 1984, Traded to C&TS for #482 in 1991, taken out of service in late 2002, restoration possible |
| 498 | 1109 | 1009 | 20640 | 1930 | D&SNG | To D&SNG 3/1981 |
| 499 | 1125 | 1025 | 20753 | 1930 | Royal Gorge Park Canon City |
Retired 1970 To D&SNG 3/1981 Traded to Royal Gorge Park for #486, 1999 |
References
- ↑ Armitage, Alan B. (October 1979). "Denver & Rio Grande Western's K-37 MIkados". Model Railroader (Milwaukee: Kalmbach): 70–73.
- ↑ Official Roster No. 11 of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad System. Denver: The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad System. April 1, 1923. p. 94.
- ↑ "Denver & Rio Grande Western Mikados". Steam Locomotive dot com. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Denver & Rio Grande Western Roster". Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Durango & Silverton Steam". DRGW.net. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Historic Steam Engine discovered in Barn". March 29, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2011.