The "Sports Model" sisters. Posing together in their respective stalls in the Durango roundhouse are the three survivors from the Denver & Rio Grande Western railroad's K-28 locomotive class. The K-28s were a class of 10, outside-frame, Alco 2-8-2s, built in 1923, that were the first new Mikados the railroad had purchased in about 20 years. Sometimes nicknamed the "Sports Models", these engines had slightly larger drivers and were a bit sleeker and faster than the K-27 class that preceded them. Out of the original 10, there are just three survivors today, these being locomotives 473, 476 and 478, all of which are now owned by the present-day Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Sadly, the other 7 members of the class were scrapped just after World War II, after returning from hard, war-time service on Alaska's White Pass & Yukon Route.
This image was captured during an October 2024, evening photo shoot, organized by Lerro Photography and hosted by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Pictured in this frame from left to right are Locomotives 478, 473 and 476. Astute observers will quickly notice that the locomotive in the center is lettered 477, which was one of the engines that was scrapped after Alaskan service. This is actually #473, which was re-lettered for a Trains Magazine Charter which had just been completed earlier in the day. At the time of this photo, the 473 was the only operable locomotive of the class. The 476, which had operated during much of the 2024 summer season, had been removed from service for an FRA hydro test and was expected to be out of service until the spring of 2025. The 478, which had not operated since 2016, was still awaiting a relatively thorough overhaul, which is planned to include a mandatory boiler survey, running gear work and a conversion to oil firing.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
