The D&RGW K-28 is a series of 2-8-2 "Mikado" type coal-fired narrow gauge steam locomotives. They were originally built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO)'s Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1923 for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG), later known as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). Of the ten class K-28 locomotives that were built, seven of them, Nos. 470, 471, 472, 474, 475, 477, and 479, were sold to the White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&Y) in Skagway, AK and later scrapped after retirement. The other three, Nos. 473, 476, and 478, were preserved at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO where they still operate as of today.
In May 2021, locomotive 473 was converted to burn oil by the D&SNG due to ongoing drought conditions in Southwest Colorado. Locomotive 476 was also converted to burn oil on May 25, 2022. All three surviving class K-28 locomotives are still in service on the D&SNG as of today, although locomotive 478 was taken out of service in April 2016 and is currently awaiting a future overhaul to return to operation again in the not-too-distant future. 478 is currently placed on temporary display in the Durango roundhouse museum where 476 used to be displayed in, but will eventually be moved in to the roundhouse for its future overhaul.
On October 17, 2023, 478 was moved out of the Durango roundhouse museum for the first time since April 2016 (but not steamed up) where it stood in the Durango yard limits alongside both 473 and 476 to celebrate the 100th birthday of the D&RGW K-28 class. One day later, on October 18, 2023, the D&SNG officially announced via Facebook that work to restore 478 back to service again is expected to begin in early 2024. The work is estimated to take between 24 to 36 months to complete and will also include a conversion to burn oil instead of coal just like both 473 and 476.
Roster[]
| Image | Number/WP&Y Number | Builder's Number | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
470 (WP&Y 250) | 64981 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on December 8, 1942.
Scrapped. |
 |
471 (WP&Y 251) | 64982 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on November 28, 1942.
Scrapped. |
 |
472 (WP&Y 252) | 64983 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on January 14, 1943.
Scrapped. |
  |
473 | 64984 | Retired in 1967.
To D&SNG in 1981. Restored to operating Condition the same year. Converted to burn oil in May 2021. Operational. |
  |
474 (WP&Y 253) | 64985 | Entered service on the White Pass & Yukon Route on February 28, 1943.
Fell off barge into bay at Haines, Alaska, hence delay of service. Was the only K-28 not to be fitted with steam heat and signal lines for passenger service. Scrapped. |
  |
475 (WP&Y 254) | 64986 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on December 15, 1942.
Scrapped. |
  |
476 | 64987 | To D&SNG in 1981.
Restored to operating condition the same year. Taken out of service in September 1999. Put on display in the D&SNG Museum from 1999-2016. Rebuilt between 2016 and 2018. Converted to burn oil on May 25, 2022. Operational. |
  |
477 (WP&Y 255) | 64988 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on December 19, 1942.
Scrapped. |
  |
478 | 64989 | To D&SNG in 1981.
Restored to operating condition the same year. Almost traded to the C&TS in exchange for K-36 No. 483 in 2015. Taken out of service in April 2016. Put on display in the D&SNG Museum from 2016-2023. Stored in the Durango Yard as of October 2023. Overhaul announced to begin in early 2024, including a conversion to burn oil. |
  |
479 (WP&Y 256) | 64990 | Entered service at the White Pass & Yukon Route on January 10, 1943.
Scrapped. |
