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Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
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.
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
Lagniappe
Alamosa, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH
Double-Header on Dual-Gauge
Alamosa, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH
Back Her Up
Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH
Durango, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH
Links / Sources
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum
- Wikipedia article for Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
- DRGW.net history and preservation website
- Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society website