loco-info.com
The reference for locomotives and railcars
Navigation
Random
Search
Compare
Settings
Steam Locomotives of the Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW)[Inhalt]
Denver & Rio Grande Western class C-16
originally class 60N
United States | 1877
96 produced
No. 220 in 1920 in Embudo, New Mexico
No. 220 in 1920 in Embudo, New Mexico
Otto Perry / Denver Public Library

The Denver & Rio Grande had the Class 60N built by Grant and Baldwin as standard freight locomotives starting in 1877. These were Consolidations, which were tiny compared to later locomotives on the three-foot gauge. Baldwin's machines had a larger boiler than Grant's. They later received the class designation C-16 from the Denver & Rio Grande Western. Some later received slightly larger wheels and higher boiler pressure. After the new Mikados took over the majority of traffic, the Class 60N was significantly decimated in the 1930s. It could only remain in use where no other locomotives could be used due to the axle load. Today Grant's number 223 remains, having been under restoration for years.

VariantGrantBaldwin
General
Built1877-1882
ManufacturerGrantBaldwin
Axle config2-8-0 (Consolidation) 
Gauge3 ft 0 in (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase17 ft 4 in17 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 4 in
Total wheelbase41 ft 11 in41 ft 9 1/2 in
Service weight60,000 lbs
Adhesive weight50,000 lbs
Total weight111,600 lbs
Axle load12,500 lbs
Water capacity2,500 us gal
Fuel capacity12,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area14 sq ft16.7 sq ft
Firebox area72 sq ft88 sq ft
Tube heating area759 sq ft764 sq ft
Evaporative heating area831 sq ft852 sq ft
Total heating area831 sq ft852 sq ft
VariantGrantBaldwin
Power Plant
Driver diameter36 in
Boiler pressure130 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 15 x 20 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power220 hp (164 kW)270 hp (201 kW)
Optimal speed10 mph12 mph
Starting effort13,812 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
passenger
narrow gauge
last changed: 09/2023
Denver & Rio Grande Western class C-19
originally class 70
United States | 1881
12 produced
Former No. 400 “Green River” in 1965 as Ghost Town & Calico Railroad No. 40
Former No. 400 “Green River” in 1965 as Ghost Town & Calico Railroad No. 40
collection Taylor Rush

After the Consolidations of the classes 56 and 60, the D&RG received twelve larger class 70 locomotives in 1881. They were used, among other things, as helpers on a four percent steep incline. Five locomotives were converted to standard gauge in the late 1890s and later reverted to three feet. When the D&RGW was reorganized they became the Class C-19 because they now had a starting pull of about 19,000 pounds thanks to new boilers rated at 160 psi. The number 400 still exists today and has been in service for more than 140 years.

General
Built1881
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config2-8-0 (Consolidation) 
Gauge3 ft (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase18 ft 1 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 9 in
Service weight74,260 lbs
Adhesive weight64,000 lbs
Total weight127,260 lbs
Axle load19,790 lbs
Water capacity2,500 us gal
Fuel capacity12,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area15 sq ft
Firebox area81.2 sq ft
Tube heating area845.8 sq ft
Evaporative heating area927 sq ft
Total heating area927 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter36 in
Boiler pressure130 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 16 x 20 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power350 hp (261 kW)
Optimal speed14 mph
Starting effort15,716 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
narrow gauge
last changed: 04/2023
Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-27
originally class 125
United States | 1903
15 produced
No. 463 in July 2016 on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
No. 463 in July 2016 on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Chris Light

The K-27 class was the last compound locomotive built for D&RGW. The “K” stood for “Mikado” and the number for starting tractive effort of 27,000 pounds. Its engine had four cylinders and was of the Vauclain type, but was replaced by a simple two-cylinder engine just four years after delivery. As with other narrow-gauge locomotives of the D&RGW, the axles were in an outside frame. The nickname “Mudhen” came about because with the original engine they often derailed. Most K-27s were scrapped in the fifties and the last two built still exist today. No. 463 runs on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and No. 464 is owned by the Huckleberry Railroad and last ran in 2019.

Variantas builtrebuilt simplesuperheated
General
Built19031907-19111924
ManufacturerBaldwinD&RGW
Axle config2-8-2 (Mikado) 
Gauge3 ft 0 in (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase24 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 5 in
Total wheelbase51 ft 0 1/2 in
Service weight125,500 lbs136,850 lbs140,250 lbs
Adhesive weight100,000 lbs104,255 lbs108,300 lbs
Total weight197,500 lbs220,150 lbs223,550 lbs
Axle load26,300 lbs27,475 lbs27,969 lbs
Water capacity3,500 us gal4,100 us gal
Fuel capacity17,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area30.2 sq ft
Firebox area106 sq ft113 sq ft
Tube heating area2,027 sq ft1,413 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,133 sq ft1,526 sq ft
Superheater area407 sq ft
Total heating area2,133 sq ft1,933 sq ft
Variantas builtrebuilt simplesuperheated
Power Plant
Driver diameter40 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typecompoundsimple
Cylindersfour, HP: 13 x 22 in
and LP: 22 x 22 in
two, 17 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power900 hp (671 kW)1,100 hp (820 kW)
Optimal speed24 mph21 mph26 mph
Starting effort23,424 lbf27,022 lbf
with start valve28,109 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
passenger
narrow gauge
Vauclain compound
last changed: 08/2023
View on YouTube
Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-28
originally class 140
United States | 1923
10 produced
No. 472 in July 1938 in Salida, Colorado
No. 472 in July 1938 in Salida, Colorado
L.S. Brown / collection Taylor Rush

When 20 years had passed since the later class K-27 was purchased from Baldwin, the D&RG purchased ten additional locomotives from ALCO-Schenectady. These were also Mikados with an outside frame, in which the cylinders, driving and coupling rods, as well as the valve gear were located on the outside. They were initially listed as class 140 and were renamed into the now better-known class K-28 after the D&RGW was founded.

They were the first D&RG locomotives to have a superheater from the beginning. The fact that the class designation indicates only a slightly higher tractive power compared to the K-27 is due to the fact that the drivers now measured 44 instead of 40 inches. However, this, combined with better mass balancing, ensured higher speeds, which is why the crews nicknamed them the “Sports Models”.

During World War II, seven were drafted by the military and taken to Alaska, where they served on the White Pass & Yukon. These were scrapped after the war, while the other three remained in use with the D&RGW until the fifties. They then came to the Durango & Silverton, where they have been pulling tourist trains ever since. The 473 is still in use today, having been converted to oil firing in 2022.

General
Built1923
ManufacturerALCO
Axle config2-8-2 (Mikado) 
Gauge3 ft (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase28 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 3 in
Total wheelbase53 ft 6 in
Service weight156,000 lbs
Adhesive weight113,500 lbs
Total weight254,500 lbs
Axle load28,448 lbs
Water capacity5,000 us gal
Fuel capacity16,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area30.1 sq ft
Firebox area102 sq ft
Tube heating area1,492 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,594 sq ft
Superheater area422 sq ft
Total heating area2,016 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter44 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 18 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,125 hp (839 kW)
Optimal speed26 mph
Starting effort27,540 lbf
Calculated Values
DampflokGüterzug
passenger
last changed: 01/2024
Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-36
originally class 189
United States | 1925
10 produced
No. 486 in June 1947 at Alamosa, Colorado
No. 486 in June 1947 at Alamosa, Colorado
Frank Peterson / collection Taylor Rush

As the penultimate series of steam locomotives for the three-foot gauge, the D&RGW procured the K-36 from Baldwin, ten of which were delivered in 1925. The “K” in the designation stood for the Mikado design, the number for the tractive force in thousands of pounds. As with its predecessors, the coupling wheels were mounted inside the outer frames and the coupling and connecting rods, valve gear and cylinders were attached outside the frames. The balancing weights were not integrated into the wheels either, but mounted on the outside.

The K-36 was initially used only in front of freight trains. In 1937, three examples were fitted with steam heating and communication lines for use in front of passenger trains. Three more followed in 1945, leading to more than half being equipped accordingly. One locomotive was so badly damaged in an accident on the turntable in 1955 that it could only be used as a spare parts donor. The other nine were removed from active service with D&RGW between 1962 and 1970.

No. 481 in October 2014 at Silverton, Colorado
No. 481 in October 2014 at Silverton, Colorado
Wayne77

It is unusual for a steam locomotive from the 1920s that all nine engines which were not destroyed in an accident are still preserved and eight of them are still operational. Five of these are now owned by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, four of which are in regular service. The other four are now owned by the Durango and Silverton and are also used regularly. One of each of the two operators was converted to oil firing around 2020.

General
Built1925
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config2-8-2 (Mikado) 
Gauge3 ft 0 in (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Length67 ft 5 3/8 in
Wheelbase28 ft 1 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 3 in
Total wheelbase58 ft 8 in
Service weight187,100 lbs
Adhesive weight143,850 lbs
Total weight286,600 lbs
Axle load36,065 lbs
Water capacity5,000 us gal
Fuel capacity18,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area40.3 sq ft
Firebox area145 sq ft
Tube heating area1,974 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,119 sq ft
Superheater area575 sq ft
Total heating area2,694 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter44 in
Boiler pressure195 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 20 x 24 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Indicated power1,410 hp (1,051 kW)
Optimal speed25 mph
Starting effort36,164 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
passenger
narrow gauge
last changed: 07/2022
View on YouTube
Denver & Rio Grande Western classes L-131 and L-132
United States | 1927
20 produced
L-132 No. 3612 on its way to final assembly
L-132 No. 3612 on its way to final assembly
Otto Conrad Perry / Richard Crabtree

In order to achieve greater pulling power, the D&RGW further developed their Mallets from the L-95 and L-107 classes to the L-131 class with single steam expansion. With the wheel arrangement 2-8-8-2 and an axle load of over 70,000 pounds it was possible to build a boiler with one of the largest fireboxes at that time. The class designation indicates a starting tractive effort of 131,000 pounds, although the commonly used formula gives about 140,000 pounds. However, the D&RGW determined the practically achievable pulling force to be 131,800 pounds and then rounded this value down.

In 1927, ten machines were initially built at ALCO-Brooks. Their area of operation was in the area of the continental divide, where there was a steepest gradient of 1.42 percent on the east side and of 3 percent on the west side. The train ratings for one of these locomotives were 3,300 short tons on the less steep side and 1,400 short tons on the steeper side. The drivers apparently complained about excessive smoke production, which became a major problem, especially in tunnels.

L-131 on a factory photo
L-131 on a factory photo
Denver Public Library Special Collections, GB-8096

When ten locomotives of another series were built in 1930, the dimensions of the power plant did not change. To distinguish them, this time the tractive effort was rounded up and it was called L-132. These were now built in Schenectady and received a new boiler design. Much of the tubes were replaced with the larger flues, which contained additional superheater elements. Like the L-131, they remained in service until the mid-1950s, when the conversion to diesel took place.

VariantL-131L-132
General
Built19271930
ManufacturerALCO
Axle config2-8-8-2 (Mikado Mallet) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase62 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase16 ft 9 in
Total wheelbase108 ft
Service weight649,000 lbs665,000 lbs
Adhesive weight559,500 lbs572,000 lbs
Total weight992,000 lbs1,008,500 lbs
Axle load71,000 lbs73,800 lbs
Water capacity18,000 us gal
Fuel capacity60,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area136.5 sq ft
Firebox area715 sq ft683 sq ft
Tube heating area6,550 sq ft7,331 sq ft
Evaporative heating area7,265 sq ft8,014 sq ft
Superheater area2,295 sq ft3,504 sq ft
Total heating area9,560 sq ft11,518 sq ft
VariantL-131L-132
Power Plant
Driver diameter63 in
Boiler pressure240 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylindersfour, 26 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power5,900 hp (4,400 kW)6,400 hp (4,772 kW)
Optimal speed27 mph29 mph
Starting effort140,093 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Articulated
last changed: 03/2023
loading...

We use cookies to save the following settings:

  • selected navigation structure
  • selected language
  • preferred units
  • spelling of railway company names

If you refuse the use of cookies, the settings will only be retained for the current session and will be reset to the default values the next time you visit the site.

Display of units

Here you can set the desired unit system for the technical data.

  • Metric: Lengths in meters, weights in tonnes, and volumes in cubic meters
  • Imperial (UK): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in long tons and volumes in imperial gallons
  • Imperial (US): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in pounds, and volumes in US gallons
  • Individual: Depends on the country of origin of each locomotive
Operator names

Here you can set the display of railway company names.

  • Short: Abbreviation or short form of the name
  • Standard: commonly used name, partially translated to English
  • Complete: full name in local language