D&RGW -497 In Durango
C&TS No. 497 is a K-37 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW)'s Burnham Shops in Denver, CO in 1930 for the D&RGW. They were a completely new class of locomotives, but did recycle parts from D&RG C-19 Consolidations, leading to present day rumors that they were converted standard gauge 2-8-0s. 497 worked on the main routes and branches of the D&RGW's extensive narrow gauge system including Marshall Pass and the San Juan Extension/Cumbres Pass.
497 was retired sometime in the late 1960s after the D&RGW announced the closure of the last of its narrow gauge mainlines. It was stored in Durango, CO and was included in the 1981 spin-off of the Silverton Branch to the newly-formed Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG). 497 was eventually restored in 1984 and began operating on the D&SNG regularly. 497 was the first class K-37 locomotive to run to Silverton, CO on its own power, and at the time, the only K-37 to do so. However, issues soon developed with 497, as its rear wheel truck had difficulty navigating the tight curves around the High Line above the Animas River, near Rockwood, CO.
In October 1991, 497 was traded to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) in exchange for C&TS 482, which was a class K-36 locomotive and had not been operational on the C&TS since it opened in 1970, and the D&SNG would have more budget to restore and an easier time operating on the High Line. Conversely, 497 was fully serviceable and immediately began operating on the C&TS between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO for the 1992 operating season. 497 was later retired from service indefinitely after the 2002 operating season in October 2002, before the expiration of its boiler certificate, and now currently sits in the roundhouse at Chama awaiting a future overhaul, although in 2020, its throttle was temporarily reused for the restoration of D&SNG 493, another class K-37 locomotive. In late August 2021, 497 was pulled out of the Chama roundhouse and placed on display in the Chama yard. It was used for display purposes only and later placed back inside the Chama roundhouse in late October 2021, although the C&TS is still considering on getting 497 back in service again in the not-too-distant future. On February 16, 2022, the C&TS announced that locomotives 492 and 497 will both be evaluated to see which one is the best candidate for restoration to be placed back into operation. This is to give the C&TS five larger locomotives to operate the regularly scheduled trains on the railroad. However, after careful evaluation by the C&TS, 492 was chosen for the restoration. The plan is to restore 492 as a coal burner while also temporarily using 497's tender. However, if it becomes economically feasible to restore 497 back to operation again in the not-too-distant future, the C&TS will build a new tender for 492.
Trivia[]
- No. 497 is the only K-37 class locomotive, as well as the only former D&RGW narrow gauge 2-8-2 type locomotive, to operate on both the Durango & Silverton and the Cumbres & Toltec.
- No. 497 has worn several different whistles during its operating career on both the D&SNG and the C&TS, including an NYC 6-chime, a Flattop 5-chime, and an SP Desert 5-chime, among others.