D&RGW (Denver & Rio Grande Western or simply Rio Grande) Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotives are narrow gauge steam locomotives manufactured by various locomotive builders such as Baldwin.
A K-36 narrow gauge steam locomotive.
They varied in size, with the large K-37 being a modified standard gauge steam locomotives built on a narrow gauge frame.
About 75% of the Baldwin-built locomotives are preserved.
History[]
They were built from the 1860s to the 1950s and were discontinued due to the end of the steam era and the D&RGW's full transition to standard gauge in the 1960s.
List of Locomotive Types From Year, Date, Build, and Company:
One of the many preserved K-37s.
Baldwin Locomotive Works:
- T-12 (4-6-0) 1880s
- C-16-C-19 (2-8-0) 1880s-1890s
- K-27 (2-8-2) 1900s
- K-36 (2-8-2) 1920s
- K-37 (2-8-2) 1920s-1930s (Rebuilt from standard gauge class C-41 (2-8-0) locomotives)
Schenectady Locomotive Works:
- T-19 (4-6-0) 1890s
American Locomotive Company (ALCO):
- K-28 (2-8-2) 1920s
Several small tank engines and tender engines were also built by Lima and other numerous companies, but came and went and weren't primarily used during the narrow gauge era of the D&RGW.
Survivors[]
This section is a list of surviving D&RGW narrow gauge locomotives in preservation.
- D&RG T-12 #168 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RG T-12 #169 (Cole Park, Alamosa, CO)
- RGS T-19 #20 (Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, CO)
- D&RGW C-16 #268 (Pioneer Museum, Gunnison, CO)
- D&RGW C-16 #278 (Marrow Point Dam Road, Cimarron, CO)
- RGS C-17 #42 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW C-18 #315 (Durango Railroad Historical Society, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW C-18 #318 (Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, CO)
- RGS C-19 #41 (Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA)
- D&RGW C-19 #340 (Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA)
- D&RGW C-19 #346 (Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, CO)
- D&RGW K-27 #463 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-27 #464 (Huckleberry Railroad, Genesee Township, MI)
- D&RGW K-28 #473 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-28 #476 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-28 #478 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #480 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #481 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #482 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #483 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #484 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #486 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #487 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #488 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-36 #489 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #491 (Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #492 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #493 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #494 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #495 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #497 (Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM/Antonito, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #498 (Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO)
- D&RGW K-37 #499 (Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Canon City, CO)
Trivia[]
- The U.S. Army purchased several D&RGW K-27s and renamed, renumbered, and repainted them into the class 250 or '250 Class USA'. All were scrapped after retirement.
- NdeM of Mexico was inspired by the D&RGW to rebuild their standard gauge steam locomotives with a narrow gauge frames.
- In the preservation era, K-37 class No. 497 is the only former D&RGW 2-8-2 type locomotive to operate on both the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
- Beginning in 2018 and 2020 respectively, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad have both begun work to convert some or all of their former D&RGW 2-8-2 type locomotives from coal burners to oil burners. As of 2023, the D&SNG has converted K-37 class No. 493, K-28 class Nos. 473 and 476, and K-36 class Nos. 480 and 482 and will soon convert the soon-to-be overhauled K-36 class No. 486. Meanwhile, the C&TS has converted K-36 class No. 489 and will soon convert the soon-to-be overhauled K-36 class No. 487.
A D&RGW K-28