Even though I live in Utah I get to see a piece of Rio Grande narrow gauge history every day as I come home from work. #223, a C-16 2-8-0 has been parked behind Ogden Union Station for a while, under going restoration. The engine is not in good shape and needs a lot of work.
#223 in the good old days
#223 looking good
#223 in 2008
Lot of work needs to be done.
A completely new tender is under construction. This one is shot.
Front number plate.
Basically needs new everything.
Info from drgw.org-To Utah Historical Society 1979 To the Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society (by the Utah Hisorical Society) and is currently under restoration (dismantled) in Ogden, Utah, at the Utah State Railroad Museum. 223 was moved in 1990 or 1991. So far, the restoration team has concentrated on the tender only. The trucks have been completely rebuilt, and the wood on the tender frame has been renewed. The original tender tank is so far gone that a new one is being constructed, at a great cost. The locomotive itself has not yet been started on, save for removing the asbestos. The boiler is in very poor shape after having been on display outdoors since 1941 with wet asbestos under the boiler jacket. There is also a problem in that the city of Salt Lake construction crews that moved 223 from Liberty Park to the Utah State Historical Society in 1979 bent the frame and rods (so badly that the drive wheels will no longer turn - even with the rods disconnected). http://www.drgw.org/data/steam/history/drg223.htm
The group that is currently restoring #223 has a web site with information and pictures of their efforts. Go to http://www.trainweb.org/GoldenSpikeLRHS/ to see what they have done and some of the challenges they face.
A recent success of restoration has been #315 a DRGW C-18 2-8-0. The group that restored the engine has well documented the steps of the restoration on their web site. http://www.drhs315.org/
Photo John B. West 2008
#315 on the Cumbers and Toltec, 2008
One main advantage the #315 group had was they actually were able to do their restoration work in Durango. They had access to the Durango and Silverton RR shops and tools. They also had help from the shops in Chama.
Work on #315 continues in the Durango shop.
Restoring a 1881 steam engine is a huge task. You just can't buy parts anymore you have to make them. Rust is your enemy and money will always be an issue.
Thanks to the #223 group for their efforts in restoring this great piece of railroad history.
Logo is still visible...but not for long.
Font view.
Not holding any water any time soon.
Firebox.
2-8-0
Mixed Freight.
Steaming up for the day.
The group that is currently restoring #223 has a web site with information and pictures of their efforts. Go to http://www.trainweb.org/GoldenSpikeLRHS/ to see what they have done and some of the challenges they face.
A recent success of restoration has been #315 a DRGW C-18 2-8-0. The group that restored the engine has well documented the steps of the restoration on their web site. http://www.drhs315.org/
Photo John B. West 2008
#315 on the Cumbers and Toltec, 2008
One main advantage the #315 group had was they actually were able to do their restoration work in Durango. They had access to the Durango and Silverton RR shops and tools. They also had help from the shops in Chama.
Work on #315 continues in the Durango shop.
Restoring a 1881 steam engine is a huge task. You just can't buy parts anymore you have to make them. Rust is your enemy and money will always be an issue.
Thanks to the #223 group for their efforts in restoring this great piece of railroad history.
Logo is still visible...but not for long.
Font view.
Not holding any water any time soon.
Firebox.
2-8-0
Mixed Freight.
Steaming up for the day.
1 comment:
The last two black-and-white photographs were taken by Otto Perry on July 4, 1940. He chased the 223 and sister C-16 No. 278 down the Baldwin Branch between Gunnison and Baldwin, Colorado. In one year and twenty days the 223 would be on a trailer in Salt Lake City for the 1941 Pioneer Days parade.
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