Steam & Excursion > Wartime Winter Freight With Mudhen #453 - Silverton. CO

On May 5, 1942 army recruit Guy L. Dunscomb was on leave in the narrow gauge country of Colorado. Fortunately for us, he decided to ride a mixed freight from Durango up to the end of the branch at Silverton, CO behind D&RGW #453, one of the famous "Mudhens" in use by the D&RGW during the war years.

Here we see Guy's train on arrival at Silverton with the snow covered mountains in the background giving testament to the need for the huge snowplow affixed to the the pilot of #453.

By December 1953 this engine had served out her last winter on the Silverton Branch of the D&RGW. She was withdrawn from service and in July 1954 her boiler was sold to a lumber mill in Durango and the rest of the engine cut up for scrap.

We will always remember her on this Spring day in Silverton during the darkest days of WWII pulling freight necessary for the U.S. war effort.

Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/12 09:57 by LoggerHogger.

---

sweet, may is prime snow slide time

nice one
doesn't the combine on the rear indicate this is a "mixed?"

Correct, the train was run as a mixed.

What a great shot! Thanks Martin. This shows that not only did the big RRs carry an overpowering amount of tonnage and passengers at that time but did a magnificent job of keeping supplies on the move.
I'd hate to think what our country would do today if it had to mobilize like it did back then.
To me those were railroad's finest hour and we owe our freedom to the troops and the ability to supply them.

Great photo!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

I think this train is DEPARTING Silverton, not arriving.

Ed

Hi Martin. Why were they called "Mudhens"? I've heard a couple different stories and wondered if you or someone could enlighten us. Thank's for posting Bill.

These engines had a tendency to "waddle" at any speed. This did not go unnoticed and the crews soon dubbed them as "Mudhens" as a result.

Martin

LoggerHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These engines had a tendency to "waddle" at any
> speed. This did not go unnoticed and the crews
> soon dubbed them as "Mudhens" as a result.
>
> Martin

Thank's Martin!

Auburn_Ed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think this train is DEPARTING Silverton, not
> arriving.
>
> Ed

Given the light and smoke shadow, I have to agree with Ed. You can also see the top of the station's pitched roof behind the third car (the main tracks are on the east side of the station).