Steam & Excursion > Some Steam Locomotives Can Make Even Light Moves Look Impressive!

During the steam era, the need to redistribute motive power was a common occurrence, especially in the helper districts for mainlines that ran in mountainous regions.  One of those rail lines that often needed to shuttle it's helper engines in this fashion was the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

In this fine view an un-named photographer has captured one of D&RG's I-131 Class 2-8-8-2's in an impressive light engine move likely necessitated due to her role that day as a helper engine in this steep region of the railroad.

Built by ALCO in June of 1927 D&RG #3607 was part of a 10-engine class of heavy coal burning 2-8-8-2's that had a working weight of  325-tons.  These engines sported 63" drivers with 26" x 32" cylinders to produce 131,800#s of tractive effort.  Needless to say, they were very good in their job of pulling loaded freight trains over the D&RG mountain territory.

Even when this massive engine was traveling light engine as we see here, she causes one to stop and take notice.  She cannot be ignored.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/19 01:34 by LoggerHogger.

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Very fine scene.  Thank you for sharing.

Cheers, Jim

According to what I have read those engines were notorious smokers but good steamers.  To me they were great looking engines with all the piping exposed,  elesco feedwater heater, and doghouse on the tender.  What else could one want!

Definitely a most impressive engine, powerful and rugged appearance.
The photographer really captured a great scene.
Guess the conductor was riding in the doghouse.
Thanks for posting this excellent photo.
ALLEN 

I've got a model of one of those.   Now, if I could only get it to smoke like that in HO scale, I'd really have something.

Craig Hanson
Vay, ID

Craig:  Try this one.
Can't give you a link but search "smoking hudson engine" on "that" tube

Are they burning some old tires in that engine?

hawkinsun Wrote:
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> I've got a model of one of those.   Now, if I
> could only get it to smoke like that in HO scale,
> I'd really have something.
>
> Craig Hanson
> Vay, ID

Crank the voltage up and you'll see lots of smoke.

Posted from Android

Good One, but I don't want an electrical boiler explosion.  Just some realistic smoke.   LOL .  It's pretty amazing, the volume of exhaust that comes out of a locomotive, as steam expands to atmospheric preasure.   Can't be duplicated in HO scale.

C.Hanson
Vay, ID

Wild!

Makes me wonder - did the Rio Grande ever consider narrow guage articulated locomotives?

/Mitch