D&SNG No. 480 is a K-36 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive. It was originally built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). It is now a permanent resident of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG). It is one of four class K-36 locomotives in operation at the D&SNG, the others being Nos. 481, 482, and 486.
In June 2021, it was converted to burn oil instead of coal and is the third steam locomotive on the D&SNG to undergo conversion from coal-burning to oil-burning, the first two being class K-37 locomotive 493 and class K-28 locomotive 473. The D&SNG also converted sister class K-36 locomotive 482 to an oil burner on December 16, 2021.
In early August 2022, the D&SNG also converted the tender of sister class K-36 locomotive 486 to oil-firing to be temporarily used behind 480 while its original tender undergoes some much-needed heavy repairs and maintenance. It will eventually get its original tender back once the heavy repairs and maintenance on it are complete. Between October 24th and 25, 2025, the D&SNG hosted a 2-day photo charter to celebrate the 100th birthday of the D&RGW K-36 class locomotives. For this photo charter, it was given a fresh coat of black paint and relettered into the 1930s-style D&RGW lettering on the tender.
Trivia[]
- No. 480 has worn several different whistles during its operating career on the Durango & Silverton, including a D&RGW 5-chime, a PRR 3-chime, an SP 6-chime, a Baldwin Locomotive Works 3-chime, a custom-built Reading 6-chime, a Rizzoli Locomotive Works T&P 3-chime, an L&N 3-chime, and a homebuilt AT&SF 6-chime, among others. Right now, it carries a 5-inch Ashton 3-chime.
- No. 480 can be seen in Herron Rail Video's Narrow Gauge Glory Volume 1 and Mark I Video's Railfanning the Silverton DVDs.