Narrow-gauge Mikado
Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotive No. 471 was one of the road’s 10 class K-28 narrow-gauge 2-8-2 Mikado types built by American Locomotive Co. in 1923. Seven of them went to the White Pass & Yukon during World War II and never returned, but the remaining three — Nos. 473, 476, and 478 — have had long careers hauling tourist trains between Durango & Silverton, Colorado.
D&RGW
Standard-gauge Mikado
Rio Grande 2-8-2 steam locomotive 1209 was one of 14 class K-63 Mikados the road acquired from Baldwin in 1913. Too light for drag-freight service, the K-63s were utility engines useful for secondary passenger trains and in fast-freight helper service.
H. K. Vollrath
Dual-service 4-8-4
The Rio Grande’s 14 class M-64 4-8-4 Northern types (Baldwin, 1929) were outstanding dual-service (freight and passenger) steam locomotives. Note the “doghouse” on the tender, a small cabin in which the head brakeman roe when the engine was on a freight train.
R. H. Kindig
Passenger 4-8-4
In 1937 Baldwin supplied five class M-68 4-8-4 steam locomotives to the Rio Grande for passenger service. The “68” in Northern type No. 1800’s class indicated that the engine was rated at 68,000 pounds of tractive force.
R. H. Kindig
Stylish GP30
Rio Grande diesel locomotive 3008 displays the stylish roofline characteristic of EMD’s GP30 freight unit. The road received 28 of the 2,250-horsepower road-switchers in 1962–63.
Hillard N. Proctor
Brawn, not beauty
Rio Grande 3404, one of the road’s 16 class L-96 2-8-8-2 Mallet steam locomotives built by Alco in 1913, might not win any beauty contests, but its fearsome appearance suggests tremendous power. Note the mammoth low-pressure front cylinders.
R. H. Kindig
The best in Rio Grande steam
Powerful, easy on track for their size, and without excessive maintenance expense, the Rio Grande’s 20 3600-series 2-8-8-2 simple articulateds (classes L-131 and L-132, built by Alco in 1927 and ’30) were the road’s best heavy steam locomotives. No. 3609 is an L-131.
R. H. Kindig
Diesel-hydraulic
The Rio Grande bought three diesel-hydraulic locomotives, designated model ML-4000 for their 4,000-horsepower rating, from German builder Krauss-Maffei in 1961. Dissatisfied with Nos. 4001–4003, the road sold them to Southern Pacific in 1964.
L. A. Marre collection
A flair for the dramatic
Diesel locomotive 5324 was one of 26 EMD SD45s the Rio Grande acquired in 1967-68. The flaired radiators made the 3,600-horsepower units easy to identify.
L. A. Marre collection
Passenger-service F3
The Rio Grande rostered 152 EMD F units, including a dozen F3s (6 A units and 6 Bs) built in 1946. F3A 5534 wears a fresh application of the road’s simplified livery that featured a single black stripe separating “Grande gold” (above) and silver (below).
L. A. Marre collection
Classic Trains editors are celebrating the heritage, history, and lore of famed (and infamous) railroads. In December 2019, we celebrate the Denver & Rio Grande Western.
Please enjoy a collection of locomotive images located in the David P. Morgan Library archives at Kalmbach Media that include the Rio Grande’s iconic locomotives and classic scenic photos.
