D&RGW K-36

The Denver and Rio Grande Western K-36 class are ten 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge, Mikado type, 2-8-2 steam locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (DRGW) by Baldwin Locomotive Works. They were shipped to the Rio Grande in 1925, and were first used along the Monarch Branch and Marshall Pass, but were later sent to the Third Division out of Alamosa. Of the original ten, four are owned by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) and five by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS). Number 485 fell into the turntable pit at Salida and was scrapped in Pueblo in 1955, with many parts being saved.

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 later K-37 Mikado engines.

The Name

The locomotives' name of K-36 comes from two different sources. The K in the name comes from the locomotives' wheel arrangement (Mikado), and the 36 stands for 36,200 pounds of tractive effort.

In Service

The K-36s were used primarily as freight locomotives out of Alamosa to Durango, and to Farmington, New Mexico, as well as out of Salida to Gunnison (over Marshall Pass) until 1955 and to Monarch on the Monarch Branch until 1956. They were built with special valves to allow brake control between locomotives while double-heading, and were commonly found between Alamosa and Chama, New Mexico. They were heavily used during the pipe boom in Farmington, and hauled long freight trains between Alamosa and Farmington.

In 1937, 3 K-36s, 482, 483, and 489, were equipped with steam heat and signal lines to haul passenger trains like the Shavano and the San Juan Express. Eventually in 1945, 484, 485, and 488, were also equipped, too.

Roster^[2][3]

Number	Photo	Builder's Number	Current Owner	Notes
480		58558	D&SNG	Retired 1970 Went to Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in March 1981. Operational
481		58559	D&SNG	Went to Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in March 1981 and was the first K-36 run to Silverton. Operational
482		58541	D&SNG	Retired 1962 Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970 Traded to Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in 1991. Operational
483		58584	C&TS	Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970, Almost swapped out with K-28 class 478 in 2015 from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad 483 also hauled the last scheduled passenger train on the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad on May 29th, 1965. It was a fan trip from Alamosa, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. Stored in Chama, NM.
484		58585	C&TS	Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970. Operational
485		58586	n/a	Crashed in the turn table pit in Salida. Due to severe injuries, 485 couldn't be saved, and was scrapped on January 24, 1955. Many parts were salvaged and used on other locomotives.
486		58587	D&SNG	Retired 1962 Went to Royal Gorge Park for display in December 1967 Went to Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in 1999. Operational
487		58588	C&TS	Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970. Operational
488		58589	C&TS	Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970. Operational
489		58590	C&TS	Retired 1962 Went to Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1970. Operational K-36 489

References

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