Rio Grande class K-36 explained

The Denver and Rio Grande Western K-36 is a class of ten narrow gauge 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) by Baldwin Locomotive Works. They were shipped to the Rio Grande in 1925 and were first used along the Monarch Branch and Marshall Pass, but were later sent to the Third Division out of Alamosa. Of the original ten, four are owned by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) and five by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR). Number 485 fell into the turntable pit at Salida and was scrapped in Pueblo in 1955, with many parts being saved.

The locomotives are of outside-frame design, with the driving wheels placed between the two chassis frames which support the boiler, but with the cylinders, driving rods, counterweights and valve gear on the outside. This general arrangement is shared with the earlier K-27, K-28 and later K-37 Mikado engines.

Designation

The locomotives' designation of K-36 comes from two different sources. The K in the designation comes from the locomotives' wheel arrangement (Mikado), and the 36 stands for 36,200 pounds of tractive effort.

In Service

The K-36s were used primarily as freight locomotives out of Alamosa to Durango and to Farmington, New Mexico, as well as out of Salida to Gunnison (over Marshall Pass) until 1955 and to Monarch on the Monarch Branch until 1956. They were built with special valves to allow brake control between locomotives while double-heading and were commonly found between Alamosa, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico. They were heavily used during the pipe boom in Farmington and hauled long freight trains between Alamosa and Farmington.

In 1937, three K-36s, Nos. 482, 483 and 489, were equipped with steam heat and signal lines to haul passenger trains like the Shavano and the San Juan Express. Eventually, in 1945, Nos. 484, 485 and 488 were also equipped, too.

As of 2023, eight of these locomotives still operate regularly. Nos. 483, 484, 487, 488 and 489 are owned by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) and Nos. 480, 481, 482 and 486 are owned by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG). However, No. 483 is stored out of service at Chama undergoing a full cosmetic restoration by the Friends of the C&TSRR as of 2023.

Conversion to oil-burning

In late 2019, No. 489 temporarily went out of service for a new smokebox installation during its Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) mandated 1,472-day boiler inspection. However, No. 489's return to service was delayed due to COVID-19. On December 15, 2020, the C&TSRR announced that in addition to the 1,472-day boiler inspection and rebuild, No. 489 will also be converted from coal-burning to oil-burning. Upon returning to service in June 2021, No. 489 was the first locomotive on the C&TSRR to be converted to oil-burning. On August 3, 2022, the C&TSRR announced that parts have been ordered for a second K-36, No. 487, to be converted from coal-burning to oil-burning over the winter of 2022 to 2023.

On the D&SNG, Nos. 480 and 482 have also both been converted to oil-burning, with No. 480 re-entering service in June 2021 and No. 482 re-entering service on December 16, 2021. In August 2022, No. 486's tender was also converted to oil-burning for temporary use behind No. 480. The D&SNG will also eventually overhaul and convert No. 486 from coal-burning to oil-burning as well, as its tender was converted to oil-burning setup for temporary use behind No. 480. As of June 2023, No. 481 is the last operational coal-burning locomotive left on the D&SNG's current roster, as the others were converted or are being converted to oil-burning locomotives.

Roster

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Number	Photo	Builder's Number	Current Owner	Notes
480		58558	D&SNG	Retired in 1970. Went to D&SNG in March 1981. Restored to operating condition in July 1985. Operational. Converted from coal-burning to oil-burning and returned to service in June 2021.
481		58559	D&SNG	Went to D&SNG in March 1981 and was the first K-36 run to Silverton. Operational. It was the last operational coal-burning locomotive left on the D&SNG's active roster until March 2024.
482		58541	D&SNG	Retired in 1962. Went to C&TS in 1970. Traded to D&SNG in October 1991 in exchange for K-37 class No. 497. Restored to operating condition in May 1992. Operational. Converted from coal-burning to oil-burning and returned to service on December 16, 2021.
483		58584	C&TS	Retired in 1968. Went to C&TS in 1970. Retired from service on the C&TS in 1977. Almost swapped out with K-28 class No. 478 in 2015 from the D&SNG. Stored in Chama, NM. Undergoing a cosmetic restoration as of 2016.483 also hauled the last steam powered scheduled passenger train on the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad on May 29, 1965. It was a fan trip from Alamosa to Durango, Colorado.
484		58585	C&TS	Went to C&TS in 1970. Restored to operating condition in 1971. Operational.
485		58586	N/A	Fell into the Salida turntable pit on December 7, 1953. Due to severe damage, No. 485 couldn't be repaired and was scrapped on January 24, 1955. Many parts were salvaged and used on other locomotives.
486		58587	D&SNG	Retired in 1962. Went to Royal Gorge Park for display in December 1967. Traded to D&SNG in May 1999 in exchange for K-37 class No. 499. Restored to operating condition in August 2000. Taken out of service in late 2019. Currently on display in the D&SNG Museum. Awaiting a future overhaul and conversion from coal-burning to oil-burning as of 2023. Tender converted to oil-burning setup in August 2022.
487		58588	C&TS	Went to C&TS in 1970. Restored to operating condition in 1973. Taken out of service in October 2021. Being converted from coal-burning to oil-burning as of 2023.
488		58589	C&TS	Went to C&TS in 1970. Restored to operating condition in 1979. Operational.
489		58590	C&TS	Retired in 1962. Went to C&TS in 1970. Restored to operating condition in 1981. Operational. Converted from coal-burning to oil-burning and returned to service in June 2021.