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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
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