Garden Railroading: Colorado Railroad Museum

Colorado Railroad Museum - Steam Up

Grant was gracious enough to snap these great images and videos he took of a "steam up" at the Colorado Railroad Museum. All captions are written by Grant except the snippets taken by Mike.

To view the videos you will have to copy and paste the links provided into your computer's browser.

Grant and Bill certainly enjoyed a fine time at the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver!

Fourteen years ago a donor made the museum an offer that nobody in his or her right mind could — or would refuse — a major donation to restore the 1899 Schenectady product that had not run since 1951. Yes, I said, 1951 — 69 years ago.

The restoration was complex, complicated, and filled with ethical dilemmas that would test any industrial historian or conscientious restoration shop foreman. No. 20 was completed in early 2020, steamed up, and moved around the museum. The Ten-Wheeler will debut for the public at the Denver museum Aug. 1.

The 12 year, $2.2M restoration includes repairs to the boiler, frame and tender.

Work was performed at the Strasburg, PA facility with the CRRM completing the task.

Placed in service in 1899 on the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad (F&CC), Engine No. 20 survives as one of only three F&CC steam locomotives in Colorado. After abandonment of the F&CC in 1912, the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) purchased the engine for use on its mountain route from Durango to Ridgway, where it remained in service until the end of RGS operations in 1951.

A rare surviving example of a ten-wheeler type narrow gauge steam locomotive, these "third generation" narrow gauge locomotives were particularly well suited for hauling passenger trains on the sustained grades typical of mountain railroading in Colorado. No. 20 is one of three known examples of the ten-wheeler type narrow gauge locomotive in Colorado.

#20 received an all new welded stainless steel tender complete with fake rivets, and patches where none were needed to recreate the original look. Each patch and dent told a story in the life of RGS #20.

Bill Scobie closely inspects No.20 which he had donated towards it’s restoration.

David Steer also contributed towards No.20’s restoration. This trip provided both David & Bill the opportunity to see the No.20 running once again in person.

No.20 is not a large engine by any standards, Bill just happens to be vertically challenged!

No.20 outside the CRRM roundhouse.

Bill discussing restoration details with the hostler.

K37 No. 491 awaits it’s next call to service.

Our rail fans: David & Bill.

No.20 steams past the loading platform to the delight of the rail fans.

No.20 has enjoyed a long and varied career.

There’s not a lot of room in the cab of a narrow gauge locomotive. Often the Fireman has to stand outside on the foot plate when shoveling the coal.

D&RGW No. 491 is a K-37 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA in 1902 for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG), later known as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW), using parts from a C-41 class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type standard gauge steam locomotive. It was rebuilt into a narrow gauge 2-8-2 in 1928.

491 was originally donated to the Colorado Historical Society (History Colorado) and placed on static display at the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1985 on loan.

After sitting in a static display for decades, in August 2014, locomotive #491 was restored to operating condition.

It was a very hot day (in excess of 36 degrees C) so the rail fans sought shade wherever they could, in this case, beside a D&RGW stock car.

No.20 running by the water tanks with the varnish in tow.

Beautifully restored No. 20.

No.491 is connected to the Photo Special freight train.

The K37’s are large engines!

No.20 rolls pass the passenger platform. The track rises to the right hence the engine is working hard.

For these next series of videos, you may be able to click on the link directly. If this does not work, simply copy and paste the link into your computer's browser for viewing.

The hyperlinks will appear in white print.

Grant...I took the liberty to create "snippets" from your videos to add to the blog above each youtube address. (Mike)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCYU77rFdPc

A railfan's delight!

The headend crew.

The tail end crew.

No.20 at the top of the grade. No.491’s freight train rests on the rear track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX9P19w2-RM

Simply glorious!

No.20 crosses over the road entrance into the museum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf3ocJl8Mos

Here’s a double dose of trains; the large scale garden railroad in the foreground and the real thing right behind.

Such a spectacular railfan setting in all scales!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7KRO91pPI

No.20 travels across the front of the property.

A lovely "going away" shot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2JTtCiWqUg

Rail Fans film No.20’s progress across the back of the lot. (you must excuse my finger in the picture, it was so bright and sunny that day I could not clearly see the screen on my cell phone to realize my finger was in the way!)