Denver & Rio Grande Western

The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) was founded in 1870 by General William Jackson Palmer and his life long friend and partner Dr. William Bell as a narrow gauge railway system with the intention of connecting Denver with Mexico City. Narrow gauge was chosen because construction costs - and equally important, construction time - were lower than standard gauge. The route was to pass over Raton Pass in what is now northern New Mexico. Feverish, competitive construction provoked the 1877-1880 war over right of way with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Both rivals hired gunslingers and bought politicians. In the end, the Santa Fe won the right to Raton Pass, while the D&RG paid $1.4 million for tracks through the Arkansas River's Royal Gorge to the mining district of Leadville, Colorado. Subsequently, the D&RG focused on exploiting the lucrative mining service opportunities to the west.

Wikipedia

The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, often shortened to "Rio Grande" or simply D&RG, originally the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, is a former common carrier passenger and freight system. The company started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870. At its peak, however, the D&RGW served as a standard gauge transcontinental bridge line between Denver, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rio Grande was a major origin of coal and mineral traffic in the region, and is perhaps best remembered for its sizable fleet of narrow gauge steam locomotives and related equipment. Today the tourist hauler Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad operates a historic section of former D&RGW trackage between its namesake towns in southwest Colorado.

See also our Rio Grande Southern shortline collection

Motive Power

Denver & Rio Grande Western #464

Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH

Denver & Rio Grande Western #464

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado, class K27
built:1903, Baldwin #21796
fuel:coal/water
notes:
17x22 cylinders, 40" drivers
blt Denver & Rio Grande #464
to Denver & Rio Grande Western, 1924
retired, 1962

Denver & Rio Grande Western #476

Durango, Co / Jun 1958 / collection

Denver & Rio Grande Western #476

builder:American Locomotive Company
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado, class K28
built:1923, Alco #64981
fuel:coal/water
notes:
18x22 cylinders, 44" drivers
to Denver & Rio Grande Western, 1923
to Durango & Silverton, 1981
in service

Chama, NM / May 1946 / collection

Denver & Rio Grande Western #497

Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH

Denver & Rio Grande Western #497

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado, class K37
built:1902, Baldwin #20521
fuel:coal/water
notes:
20x24 cylinders, 44" drivers
blt Denver & Rio Grande standard gauge
rebuilt by D&RGW to narrow gauge, 1930
to Durango & Silverton, 1981
to Cumbres & Toltec, 1991

Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH

Denver & Rio Grande Western #498

Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH

Denver & Rio Grande Western #498

builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
arrangement:2-8-2 Mikado, class K37
built:1902, Baldwin #20640
fuel:coal/water
notes:
20x24 cylinders, 44" drivers
blt Denver & Rio Grande standard gauge
rebuilt by D&RGW to narrow gauge, 1930
to Durango & Silverton, 1981
in service