D&RGW K-27 463 Is Back

D&RGW 463 pulled a train from Antonito to Lava tank and back today on the Cumbres and Toltec. The old girl finally got to stretch her legs after nearly a decade out of service. It's good to see #463 back in action, but there is still more work to be done before 463 is ready for the upcoming season. Here is a link with photo's of 463's run to Lava. Congrats to the shop crews for undertaking this massive restoration project on top of maintaining the other revenue equipment. http://www.coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/FriendsForum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=997&p=2490#p2490
Alex

 

D&RGW K-27 463 just rolled into Chama at 6:50 (mountain time) pulling its first train of passengers over the Cumbres and Toltec since it was taken out of service nearly a decade ago. It doubleheaded with K-36 out of Antonito this morning. At Cumbres 487 ran light ahead of the train down the 4% into Cumbres followed by 463 and the train. There are currently (as I post this 4 of the operable locomotives are in Chama with three of them hot and one cold.) One of the operable K-36's is alone in Antonito.
Welcome back 463 and hats off to the CATS and the Friends for making this happen.

Now hopefully onto the next locomotive project, maybe we can bring a K-37 back to life, or how about bringing K-36 483 back from the dead to make all 9 surviving K-36's operational (there was originally 10 but 485 fell in a turntable pit in the 1950's and was scrapped), or even bring rotary OY (possible) or rotary OM (doubtful) back into service.
Alex

 

483 has been out of service since the 1980's and has been used as a parts source for the other K-36's. It was the last K-36 used by the D&RGW and the first locomotive used on the C&TS. It helped reopen the line in 1971 and was the first train in Chama post D&RGW era. 483 would need many new parts. There are many that want to see it returned to service because of its historical background, but it would be much more realistic to restore it for static display, and there is a plan in the works for that.

The last K-37 in operation was 497 in the early 2000's, it is the only K-37 to operate post D&RGW ownership. It is currently stored in a stall of the Chama roundhouse, so it has been well protected since being taken out of service. I believe it either needs boiler work or frame work (it is one or the other) and a complete overhaul. The C&TS also has K-37's 492, 494(last run 1962), and 495(last run 1962) on property. 494 and 495 are pretty worn out, but 492 either has a good frame or boiler (it is the opposite of 497). There has been people who have suggested crossing the 497 and 492's good parts to create an operational locomotive and then crossing the two locomotives bad parts to create a static locomotive. It would save some restoration costs. The best K-37 candidates are 497 followed by 492.

Rotary OY was last operated I believe in 1999 and is technically listed as serviceable although it needs to be rebuilt (mainly boiler) to be safely returned to service. It hasn't been fired up since 1999. Rotary OM was last used in the 1980's, and was retired because its frame, drive shaft, housing, and boiler needed rebuilding. OM is older than OY, and I believe OY is more modern in the way it is constructed and it is without a doubt in the best shape of the two. Fun fact, rotary ON still technically survives being used as fill on the White Pass and Yukon.

The friends are also working on other various rolling stock projects as well as the rebuilding of Derrick OP to operation. They also in the last few years returned pile driver OB to service.
Alex

 

I'd like to see OY back in operation. That would only be if C&TS will operate in the winter again.

 

It's always great to see an out-of-service steamer return to operating status again. Hope 463 has a great summer on the C&TS.