After 50 years D&RGW narrow gauge K-37 2-8-2 #493 steams again

[Erik W]

This is pretty cool.  The Durango and Silverton has resurrected K-37 #493 after around 50 years of being idle.  Here's a video from her first time moving under power.  Also note that they converted #493 to an oil burner.  Here's a good article on why the railroad took this route: https://durangoherald.com/articles/263817

Erik

[Mark5]

Very cool. 

[narrowminded]

Train engines are supposed to be steam.  They just are.

[wazzou]

Nothing quite like the whir of a Dynamo.

[johnb]

She looks great, glad to see another Rio Grande narrow gauge loco converted to oil...

[nkalanaga]

Will an oil burner run on bio diesel?  If so, they're set for the next hundred years, regardless of fuel changes.

[johnb]

Will an oil burner run on bio diesel?  If so, they're set for the next hundred years, regardless of fuel changes.

the Grand Canyon steamer burns fry oil...

[MK]

the Grand Canyon steamer burns fry oil...

No wonder it smells like McDonald's!   

[Erik W]

Aside from greatly reducing the chances of accidentally starting a forest fire, this also addresses the ire towards the railroad from the rise of NIMBYs in Durango over the last 20 years ago or so.  As Durango has seen a measure of gentrification over the last couple of decades, more and more people are complaining about the railroad and the accompanying noise, smoke, ash, and smell.  Years ago the D&S switched over to burning wood pellets in the loco fireboxes at night to try to address these concerns.

The good news is, the oil burning #493 still belches black smoke when heading up a grade with a load.  Go to 7:45 if you don't want to watch the whole thing. 

Erik

[eric220]

The good news is, the oil burning #493 still belches black smoke when heading up a grade with a load.  Go to 7:45 if you don't want to watch the whole thing. 

If it weren’t for the smoke and steam, that shot at 7:44 sure looks like a model.

[Erik W]

Ha!  You're right.  The folks at the Durango and Silverton aren't very good at weathering.

Erik

[nkalanaga]

JohnB:  close enough.  Thank you!

Erik W:  Another issue is that the SW Colorado coal mines are closing, or already closed, and bringing in coal is expensive.  Even without the NIMBYs, they'll likely go to all oil, or other liquid fuel, eventually.  It isn't so much environmental regulations killing the mines, as a lack of customers, and shipping costs to non-local users.  Basically, the railroad is the only customer left in the area.

[Hawghead]

Well an oil fired narrow gauge steam locomotive is better than no narrow gauge steam locomotive.  Seems a shame that these railroads, that go to great lengths to avoid fires, are being raked over the coals as it were, while a teenager who burns down half of the Colombia River Gorge just walks away unscathed.

As to the railroad getting on the nerves of the towns people, I have to agree that the railroads could be better neighbors when it comes to noise.  I don't know if it's the engineers trying to be Casey Jones or if it's done for enjoyment of the tourists, but in every video I see of these railroads, they could be much more judicious with the bell and whistle.  While you might think that the whistle would be the worst offender, I'd bet money, if you asked the local residents, that the constant ringing of the bells is what is most annoying.

Scott

[wazzou]

Not aimed at you Scott by any means, but I have little sympathy for those that move in close to the trains and are then surprised and offended when they make noise. 

[Erik W]

"I have little sympathy for those that move in close to the trains and are then surprised and offended when they make noise."

I've had that thought too, specifically about Durango.  The vibe in that town has changed a lot since I moved out here to Colorado in 1996.

Erik