C&TS No. 487 is a K-36 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge coal-fired steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in August 1925. It was built especially for use on the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) and the locomotive is still in use today on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO in tourist excursion service. As of today, it is one of four operational class K-36 locomotives on the C&TS, the others being Nos. 484, 488, and 489, the latter of which was converted to burn oil in early June 2021. On August 3, 2022, the C&TS announced that another one of their K-36 class locomotives would also be converted to burn oil instead of coal over the 2022-2023 winter season. It was later confirmed that it had been chosen for the conversion. The extensive firebox work and oil conversion was recently completed on August 9, 2024 and it moved under its own power for the first time since October 2021. It is currently scheduled to make its official debut on the C&TS as an oil burner very soon.
Trivia[]
- No. 487 was used in the music video for "Heartbreak Station" by Cinderella.
- No. 487 is the only class K-36 locomotive on the Cumbres & Toltec to always be seen with a snowplow attached to its front.
- No. 487 has worn three different whistles during its operating career on the C&TS, those being a D&RGW 5-chime, a Reading 6-chime, and a Rizzoli Locomotive Works D&RGW 5-chime. Right now, it currently carries the original D&RGW 5-chime.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Montreal Loco Works 4-6-2 5288, Tennessee Valley Railroad, April 2013 CNV00050 (10319176335).jpg (388 KB)")
