Steam & Excursion > Steam Files - D&RGW #4

D&RGW 1804
4-8-4 - Class M-68
Baldwin 1938
 
The big 4-8-4 “Westerns” on the D&RGW were the five 1800’s (1800 – 1804) built by Baldwin in late 1937 and placed into service in January 1938. Bigger and more powerful than the 1700’s of 1929, they took over the premier passenger trains such as the “Exposition Flyer”, “Royal Gorge” and “Scenic Limited”, capable of hauling a sixteen car train up a 1.4% at 40 mph.
 
As big and new as they were though, they didn’t seem to get the overall admiration that the 1700’s had. There were some issues, and I can’t seem to find the specific details, but I think the boilers were nickel steel and had cracking issues. Maybe someone can clarify and expound on that. The 1804, seen in these images blew up on February 4, 1941 just outside of Burnham Shop in Denver. Again, I don’t have specifics of exactly what happened. It was rebuilt and survived as the last operating Class M-68.
 
DRGW 1800 was reported as scrapped in August 1954, the last surviving member, the 1804 having been scrapped in June, left behind its tender which was used as a shed at CF&I in Pueblo. Whether it still may exist, I have no idea. Eight of the older 1700’s survived beyond the last of 1800’s.
 
Specs:
 
Cylinders: 26” x 30”
Driver Diameter: 73”
Boiler Pressure: 285 lbs.
 
Tractive Effort: 67, 200 lbs.
Type E Superheater
Elesco Feed Water Heater
American Multiple Throttle
Standard Modified Type B Stoker
106 sq. ft. grate area
 
Total Engine Weight: 479, 360 lbs.
One-piece cast steel frames
Baldwin Driving Wheel Centers
Roller Bearings on all engine, tender and trailer trucks
 
Photo of 1804 credited to Gerald M. Best, location unknown. An early date, perhaps shortly after delivery.
 
Photo of 1804 after the boiler explosion on February 4, 1941 – unknown photographer
 

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First pic looks to be at Colorado Springs.

I forget whether the 1800s had variable lead--
maybe that's what that extra rod visible above
the radius rod is.

These were direct copies of the MP 4-8-4's.    Externally almost identical.    There is one MP engine left I have always wanted to see it restored and painted DRGW.    

Richard.

Only MP engine left that I know of is a Iron Mountain 4-6-0 and a piece of a 2-8-0. They had some great engines, some of which would have been super excursion engines but scrapped everything. Bastards.

ATSFSuperCap Wrote:
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> These were direct copies of the MP 4-8-4's.   
> Externally almost identical.    There is one MP
> engine left I have always wanted to see it
> restored and painted DRGW.    
>
> Richard.

Looks like the MoPac engines were built after the Rio Grande engines. So maybe Rio Grandes were the pattern? Or was there an earlier than 1938 4-8-4 on MoPac?

Posted from Android

The MP at their Sedalia, MO shops took their 2-8-4 1901 class and rebuilt all of them into the 2101 Class 4-8-2s. They did boiler conversions using nickle steel and it was problematic like all roads who used it. Cracking. They were retired early but were great engines when they were in service. The 2201 series were good engines.
MP turned out some great engines at Sedalia. It's a pity they chose not to save any. A 5320, 5335,6001 and maybe a 2201 and 6600 would have been some super excursion engines.
NYC cut up all their 4-6-4s and Niagaras and there are certain other engines around the country that were famous. Timken 1111 comes to mind. I'm sure everybody has one they'd like to see.
OK I'm done beating the poor deceased equine.

MP 2100's were 4-8-4's.