Rio Grande 168 Explained

Denver and Rio Grande Western No. 168
Powertype:Steam
Hatnote:Reference
Builder:Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serialnumber:6670
Builddate:1883
Rebuilddate:2016–2019
Uicclass:2′C n2
Driverdiameter:460NaN0
Weightondrivers:506431NaN1
Locoweight:705501NaN1
Locotenderweight:1179500NaN0
Fueltype:Coal
Length:53.31NaN1
Boilerpressure:1600NaN0
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:14x
Tractiveeffort:115902NaN2
Operator:D&RG » D&RGW
C&TSRR
Operatorclass:D&RG: 47,
DRGW: T-12
Retiredate:1938
Restoredate:October 2019
Disposition:Operational, in occasional excursion service, based in Antonito, Colorado
Embed:yes
Rio Grande Engine No. 168
Location:9 S. Sierra Madre, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Coordinates:38.8343°N -104.8281°W
Built:1883
Architect:Baldwin Locomotive Works
Added:August 10, 1979
Area:less than one acre
Refnum:79000601

Denver and Rio Grande Western No. 168 is a class "T-12" “Ten Wheeler” type narrow-gauge steam locomotive. It is one of twelve similar locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883. It was built as a passenger locomotive, with 46inches drivers, the largest drivers used on any three-foot gauge D&RGW locomotive. The large drivers made it suitable for relatively fast passenger service.

Various photographs show 168 during its working life. One shows it in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in 1904. Another shows it in Montrose, Colorado, west of Gunnison, at the head of a special train taking President William Howard Taft to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel which, at the time, was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world. There are also photographs, taken by Otto Perry, showing it in Alamosa in 1923 and Salida in 1929. It was retired in 1938 after a service life of 55 years.

The railroad gave it to the City of Colorado Springs on August 1, 1938. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Rio Grande Engine No. 168 in 1979. Although it sat in Antlers Park, unprotected from the elements behind a low fence for so many years, it appeared to be in remarkable cosmetic condition when removed for restoration to operating condition in early 2016.

The city has arranged with the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) to have the engine restored to working order. The locomotive is now located in Antonito, Colorado.[1]

Restoration was completed in October 2019. The restoration project was headed up by Cumbres and Toltec Special Projects department and led by Assistant General Manager Efstathios Papas. The project cost $508,000 and took 27 months to complete. The railroad intends to use this engine frequently and put it into normal service as much as possible.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Historic Colorado Springs Locomotive to be reborn!. City of Colorado Springs. 2015-07-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306191918/https://coloradosprings.gov/cat/resident-services/communications/news-releases/historic-colorado-springs-locomotive-be-reborn. 2016-03-06.
  2. Papas, Efstathios. Personal Interview. March 11, 2020