| Rio Grande No. 482 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| D&SNG (Former D&RGW) No. 482 Arriving in Durango, July 15, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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D&SNG No. 482 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) and is now preserved as a permanent resident of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO.
After retirement from the D&RGW in 1962, 482 was originally sold to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO in 1970, but was never restored back to operating condition there. In October 1991, 482 was traded to the D&SNG in exchange for class K-37 locomotive 497 and restored to operating condition the following year in May 1992. As of today, 482 still operates tourist excursion trips on the D&SNG. It is one of four operating class K-36 locomotives on the D&SNG, the others being Nos. 480, 481, and 486.
On December 16, 2021, 482 was converted to burn oil instead of coal and is the fourth steam locomotive on the D&SNG to undergo conversion from coal-burning to oil-burning, the first three being class K-37 locomotive 493, class K-28 locomotive 473, and sister class K-36 locomotive 480. In October 2023, 482 was temporarily taken out of service for its Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandated 1,472-day boiler inspection and overhaul and will eventually run again when the work is complete.
Trivia[]
- No. 482 has worn several different whistles during its operating career on the Durango & Silverton, including an NYC 6-chime, a D&RGW 5-chime, a Powell 3-chime, and an N&W experimental 3-chime, among others. Right now, it currently carries a Crosby 3-chime.