RGS No. 20 is a T-19 class 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works in April 1899, originally for the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad (F&CC) and was given the name "Portland". After the F&CC went bankrupt in 1915, the locomotive, along with two other members of its class, were sold to the Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company (RGS). In 1952, as the RGS was coming to a close, the locomotive was sold to the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club and later donated to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado.
It was restored to operating condition between October 2006 and July 2020 by the Colorado Railroad Museum, with most of the restoration work being done at the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It made its official operational debut at the Colorado Railroad Museum on August 1, 2020. In 2021, it visited the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between late August and early October where it operated on special photo charters, as well as to participate briefly in the railroad's Roundup of the Victorian Iron Horses event alongside Denver & Rio Grande No. 168, Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 315, which was renumbered and relettered to Denver & Rio Grande No. 425 for the event, Eureka & Palisade No. 4, nicknamed Eureka, and Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company No. 1, nicknamed Glenbrook.
Trivia[]
- RGS 20 is nicknamed "Portland".
- RGS 20 was featured in the film "A Ticket to Tomahawk" (1950).
- RGS 20 is the only locomotive in the Colorado Railroad Museum's collection that can operate on special excursions outside the museum grounds, whereas D&RGW 346 and 491 can both only operate on the museum grounds.
- In 2021, RGS 20 visited the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between late August and early October to operate special photo charters and to participate briefly in the railroad's Roundup of the Victorian Iron Horses event.
