D&SNGR 493 Leads the Cascade Canyon Train
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad touches the senses in different ways. Some ride because of the spectacular scenery deep within the rugged San Juan Mountains, and for the breathtaking views along the Animas River. Others ride because of the steam locomotives that lead passengers on their journey through time, bringing with it its own rhythm and song that resonates off the mountains.
The railroad stables three classes of steamers, each originally built for the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR, the D&SNG’s predecessor. Designated K-28, K-36 and K-37’s for their 2-8-2 wheel arrangement and respective pulling power. K-28 #473 has never been out of service for more than routine maintenance. 473 is slated to be the next locomotive to be converted to oil.
Sister engine #476 underwent a major rebuild in 2017 after sitting in the Durango & Silverton museum for decades. Along with #478, currently in the museum, these three are the last of the K-28’s in existence. Built in 1923 for use on the Silverton branch, they are the oldest steam engines in use on the D&S today.
The railroad also employs four K-36 engines #480, #481, #482, and #486. They were built in 1925 and are all in operation to this day.
Because of long-term drought conditions and changing climate patterns in Southwest Colorado, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is evolving its operations, in part, by diversifying its locomotive power so that it can more safely transport passengers year-round regardless of weather conditions.
One of the ways it is doing this is by converting one of its K-37 Class locomotives, the 493, from a coal -fired locomotive to an oil-fired one as part of the scheduled rebuild of the engine. Locomotive 493 was originally built in 1902 as a standard gauge locomotive and rebuilt in 1928 to its current narrow gauge configuration. The 493 last ran in regular service over 50 years ago in July 1968. It is one of two K37 locomotives currently owned by the D&S - 498 being the other. They are the largest engines currently owned by the railroad. The 493 was selected in part because of the size and configuration of the firebox. Beginning in April of 2018 the conversion of locomotive #493 from coal burning to oil burning began.
The actual mechanical work to restore and convert this locomotive to oil fire is only one aspect of being able to successfully operate the #493 on the D&SNG line. Crew training, fueling logistics and estimating fuel consumption are also key elements in the transition from coal to oil. For this reason, the D&S railroad has leased a historic oil-burning locomotive, the Southern Pacific 18, a T44 16/20 68 locomotive, from Eastern California Museum in Inyo County, California.
In late January of 2020, after almost two years of restoration and modification, D&S 493 emerged from the engine house and began test runs up to Rockwood. Our video shows 493 on its second revenue run, taking passengers from Durango to Cascade Canyon on February 15, 2020.
Can we all agree that the day 493 runs to Silverton will be monumental? It’ll be like revisiting its resting place
I'm sure it will in May. Thanks for watching!
Great video, Tom! And thank you for all the great information in the description. Very informative.
Thank you, Mark. This one was a lot of fun to make.
Yard Limit you’re welcome
Welcome back to life #493.
Thank you for watching!
Denver & Rio Grande Western 493: Thank you. 🙂
Great shooting of a nice subject.
Thank you, James!
Very Nice Tom. Nice clean shots and informative narration.
Thank you, Bob. That means a lot coming from you!
Wow, what a great video of our new train #493. I just love to watch this machine run. So enjoyable to watch. Your video is the longest and the best one yet. Keep up the great photography of the new train and thanks for all the history about #493. Thanks so much. Hope to see more of her. Thanks 🙏 Ronald of Denver. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you, Ronald for the kind words and for watching the video!
Very nice picture.
Thank you! www.ebay.com/itm/D-SNGR-493-at-Shalona-Colorado-16X20-Color-Photograph/153841524402
Welcome back 493!!!
Indeed. Thanks for watching!
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Awesome video!
Thank you!
Great shots. I like the snow scenes. Excellent video Tom.
Thank you very much, Hans!
WOW! Very beautiful video! 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you!
@@YardLimit I will be glad to see you from my cannel about trains, my friend!
👏🏻 Bravo, Tom! Nice work.
Thank you, Kevin!
Chuff sounds very smooth and bassy. Whistle sounds like it's a Reading RR 6 chime. Definitely different sounding for the D&S. Clearly it's a lot cleaner at the stack too with different fuel source. Nice to see a K-37 running on the line again.
It was really nice to see. Thanks for watching!
I remember going to this railroad only once.
Then it's time for you to go back, but first visit the Cumbres & Toltec which opens in June.
@@YardLimit ok
Filmed very nicely. I like it.
Thank you!
Beautiful video! 🚂👍
Thank you very much!
Some of those passenger cars look like they’ve been repainted. They look gorgeous.
They do take good care of them. Thanks for watching!
Several are new. The Vista Dome No. 314 KNIGHT SKY was built by the D&S.
5:03 bit of a mistake there, you said K-27 instead of K-37 e.e
My bad. Thanks for watching!
Is the reason why she looks so clean because she just got restored?
In late January of 2020, after almost two years of restoration and modification, D&S 493 emerged from the engine house and began test runs up to Rockwood. Our video shows 493 on its second revenue run, taking passengers from Durango to Cascade Canyon on February 15, 2020. So, yes, that's why.
I know it's the biggest engine on the line but 493 always sounds like it struggles more than the K36's like 480 and 482.
Maybe because it's a bigger engines, it's just louder. Who knows?
Lets not forget the K-27s aka Mudhens also worked for the Denver and Rio grande Western narrow gauge railroad.
ua-cam.com/video/mdkodUTEW4I/v-deo.html
I wonder it the rest of the Fleet will be converted.
Thanks for watching. Rumor has it... ua-cam.com/video/hB9MZ2e8754/v-deo.html