Steam & Excursion > For Several Years These Were The Most Important Trains Running!

While World War II taxed the limits of the Nation's railroads in delivering materials and supplies for the war effort, the most important trains on the rails for those years were the troop trains.  It was those trains that carried this nation's most precious and necessary cargo.

In this fine winter scene shot in December 1945 somewhere in Utah, we see just such a troop train pulled by Denver & Rio Grande #1522.  She has waited for the departure of D&RG #1606 with another troop train and now it is her turn to follow. 

With the War at an end, her cargo of returning troops must be more than anxious for this last ride to end.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/17 03:19 by LoggerHogger.

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Wow, a 63" drivered 4-8-2!

Those in the trains did a service that many today cannot even think what it was like over there. I was a baby but can still remember meeting those who had been there they never talked about it other than yup was over seas.

I always thank them for there service one still sometimes wears his uniform and visits the Medford Live Steam club layout in his wheel chair.

I may of course be mistaken, but that looks to be one of the N&W K-3 locomotives the Rio Grande purchased in a pinch during the war.  It definitely has a then-standard N&W six-axle tender on it, which helps give away the identity masked by the Rio Grande facelift.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/17 07:56 by MaryMcPherson.

D&RGW 1522 was an M-67 4-8-2, built by Brooks in 1923 for the D&RG.  It was scrapped in February 1955.

WW Wrote:
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> D&RGW 1522 was an M-67 4-8-2, built by Brooks in
> 1923 for the D&RG.  It was scrapped in February
> 1955.

That wouldn't be the first or last time...  That does appear to be a former N&W tender behind it though.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

For what it's worth, the 1522 does have a design similar to the N&W K3 in that the main rod is driving the third driver set, rather than the second driver set on most Mountain types.  This design characteristic, which results in a heavier main rod, was blamed for the bad dynamic augment problems of the K3.

For comparison, the top photo is a D&RGW M-67 (road number 1507), and the bottom photo is a Norfolk & Western K3.

Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/17 11:38 by sgriggs.

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In speaking with Utah native and mentor Kelly Anderson, this looks to be Provo, Utah. The train would be headed westbound from where this image is taken. The whisps of coal smoke from the background to the right side of the photograph could be the Union Pacific's roundhouse. The  station would be at the photographer's back from this picture.

Ryan

there should be a "like" button for these great pics.