D&RGW K-37

D&RGW K-37
Denver & Rio Grande Western K-37
D&RGW #491 at Colorado Railroad Museum
Power type Steam
References:[1][2]
Dimensions are as rebuilt unless noted
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Build date 1902
Rebuilder D&RGW Burnham Shops
Rebuild date 1928–1930
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 2
Cylinder size 21 × 30 in (533 × 762 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Tractive effort 37,100 lbf (165 kN)
Locomotive brakes Air
Train brakes Air
Career DRGW, D&SNG, C&TS
Class D&RG: 190
D&RGW: C-41
after rebuild K-37
Number in class Original class 190: 30
Rebuilt class K-37: 10
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 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.

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 1970
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 Thought to be Dismantled 1/31/1955, Recently Discovered in a Barn near Salida, Colorado (this story was a hoax, it was an Aprill Fools joke see link: http://railroadfalseheadlines.wordpress.com/)
497 1103 1003 20521 1930 C&TS To D&SNG 3/1981
Traded to C&TS for #482, 1991
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

  1. ^ Armitage, Alan B. (October, 1979). "Denver & Rio Grande Western's K-37 MIkados". Model Railroader (Milwaukee: Kalmbach): 70–73. 
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ "Denver & Rio Grande Western Mikados". Steam Locomotive dot com. http://www.steamlocomotive.com/mikado/drgw.shtml. Retrieved 12 February 2010. 
  4. ^ "Denver & Rio Grande Western Roster". Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society. http://www.drgw.org/data/steam/roster/drgw04.htm. Retrieved 12 February 2010. 
  5. ^ "Durango & Silverton Steam". DRGW.net. http://www.drgw.net/info/index.php?n=Main.DSNGRoster. Retrieved 12 February 2010. 
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