Steam & Excursion > Durango & Silverton K37 493 Photo Special 02/16/2020

Folks:

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad recently restored their former D&RGW 2-8-2 K37 #493 to operation and during the process converted it to burn oil. After some test runs and a few revenue runs with their Winter Cascade Trains, they announced that it would pull the annual Winter Photographers Special. I made a last minute decision to go, making reservations the Tuesday before. I was fortunate enough to be offered a seat in the last car, the parlor car Alamosa. I am traveling and don't have my notes, so I may be a bit off on the locations.

1) 493 on display in Silverton, Colorado, July 2015. I believe it last ran in 1968
2) On the ready track in Durango, get ready to move out to couple onto the train
3) Ready to go in Durango

Randy in PHX

To be continued.....
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/20 18:44 by randyr.

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4) The Parlor Car Alamosa in Durango
5) Pinkerton Siding
6) My advertisement for the D&SNG, a view from the back platform of the Alamosa of the Animas River below the High Line. The tracks where the line enters the area is in the upper right

To be continued.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/20 05:58 by randyr.

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7) Animas River Bridge
8) Ah Wilderness
9) Taking on water at Tank Creek, note the former tank car that replaced the original water tower, which is still standing a little further north of this spot

To be continued.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/20 05:59 by randyr.

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10) Bridge at Teft
11) Tacoma, by the power plant
12) Last run-by on the High Line heading south.

This was my third year riding the D&SNG Winter Specials, the crew does a great job and the whole experience is great. And thanks for looking,

Randy in PHX
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/20 06:00 by randyr.

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Beautiful images.
Bob

Great Photos and glad to see her running. What are the two light colored pipes directly in front of the cab that arch up and over the boiler?

1019X Wrote:
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> Great Photos and glad to see her running. What are
> the two light colored pipes directly in front of
> the cab that arch up and over the boiler?

I believe they are the steam supply to each of the injectors, i.e. one one the right side and one on the left side.

Hotwater is correct. I confirmed with the engineer in Durango. If you look closely at the first pic in Silverton, you can see remnants of the original injector pipes. And the pictures from Sunday you can see those pipes going into the injector. A bit odd, but the fireman said they work great.

Randy in PHX.

Posted from iPhone

Needs some grime. Looks far too shiny for a photo special. Lettering is also historically wrong. Should be Rio Grande. 

Not to be picky but 493 is a K-37!

I am such a heretic, I know better, thanks for catching my error!

Randy in PHX

A wonderful set but there's not much snow, is that usual for Feb?

Last year in Durango, I believe, they had a record snow season. Visiting with my sister who lives there, and members of the crew, they indicated this was a down year for snow. If you look at image 9 where they are taking on water, and this shot below from last year, you can see the difference. In this shot the Tank is directly behind us.

Randy in PHX

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Thanks for the great photos.  I sure hope they and Chama start getting some snow.  We do not want a repeat of two years ago with the fires.

Jim Barton

Outstanding images !!!  Thanks for sharing . --Kelly