OGDEN, Utah — The City of Ogden, the 223 Locomotive Foundation, and the Colorado Railroad Museum have announced plans for an operational restoration of Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 223. The 2-8-0 locomotive is one of three remaining C-16 class engines built in 1881. It is the only remaining C-16 built by Grant Locomotive Works of Patterson, N.J.
The locomotive, which has been housed at Ogden Union Station since 1992, is owned by the City of Ogden. The 223 Foundation was established to raise financial support for the restoration and help coordinate the efforts of those involved in the project. Once restored, No. 223 will reside at the Colorado Railroad Museum.
After receiving clear title to the locomotive in February 2024, Ogden officials began studying options for its future. Narrow-gauge locomotive expert John Bush was hired to inventory No. 223’s parts, a process that required 6 months to complete. The city’s study concluded that returning No. 223 to Colorado, where it ran originally, and restoring it to operation was the best path forward.
“We set out to understand and implement the best possible future for this locomotive,” says Hope Eggett, museum administrator for the Museums at (Ogden) Union Station. “I truly believe we’ve accomplished this. With this plan, generations will be able to experience Rocky Mountain railroading, reflecting the priorities and desires of both the narrow-gauge community and the Utah State Railroad Museum.”
“After so many years of being a static artifact, we will now be able to move forward in making … [No.] 223 a piece of living history to educate current and future generations on how narrow gauge railroading built the communities of the Rockies, along with the development of steam locomotives,” says Jimmy Booth, 223 Locomotive Foundation president.
In 1881 and 82, the D&RG had the largest expansion ever, according to historian Jerry Day. The railroad required a new fleet of narrow gauge 2-8-0s. It contacted Baldwin Locomotive Works for 99 class 60 engines (later changed to class C-16). Baldwin was not able to build the entire order and contracted with Grant Locomotive Works to assemble 28 locomotives. Baldwin supplied the drawings, so the entire order looked essentially the same, except for differences in the steam and sand domes. No. 223 was completed in December 1881, costing $11,553.50.
No. 223 entered service on Feb. 12, 1882, when it double headed with No. 403, a class 70 (C-19), on a mixed train run from Salida to the Orient Iron Mine over Poncha Pass in the San Luis Valley. The locomotive ran into the 1930s on the Baldwin Branch.
For more on this project visit the 223 Locomotive Foundation website. Information about the Colorado Railroad Museum can be found at its website.
