D&SNG No. 486 is a K-36 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1925 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). After retirement from the D&RGW in 1967, it was donated to the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City, CO for static display. In May 1999, 486 was traded to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO in exchange for class K-37 locomotive 499 and later restored to operating condition in August 26, 2000.
As of today, 486 is now preserved and operated by the D&SNG as a permanent resident. It is one of four class K-36 locomotives in operation on the D&SNG, the others being Nos. 480, 481, and 482. In late October 2019, 486 was taken out of service and placed on temporary display in the D&SNG roundhouse museum alongside class K-28 locomotive 478.
In early August 2022, its tender was converted to oil-firing to be temporarily used behind sister class K-36 locomotive 480 while 480's original tender undergoes some much-needed heavy repairs and maintenance. On October 18, 2023, the D&SNG announced the return to service of 478, with restoration work beginning in early 2024, and the conversion of both 478 and 481 to burn oil instead of coal. They also announced that 486 will remain on temporary display in the D&SNG roundhouse museum. Whether or not 486 will return to service again anytime soon is yet to be determined, but it will eventually be the last locomotive on the D&SNG to be converted to an oil burner.
Trivia[]
- No. 486 has only worn a D&RGW 5-chime whistle during its operating career on the Durango & Silverton. Its D&RGW 5-chime was also used on sister class K-36 locomotive No. 481 from January to March 2024 and class K-28 locomotive No. 476 from June 2024 to April 2025.
- No. 486 can be seen in Herron Rail Video's Narrow Gauge Glory Volume 1 DVD.