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Rio Grande 168

Denver and Rio Grande Western No. 168
D&RG No. 168 at the head of a special train taking William Howard Taft to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel in 1909
Type and origin Reference [1][2][3] Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 6670 Build date 1883 Rebuild date 2016–2019
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0  • UIC 2′C n2 Gauge 3 ft (914 mm) Driver dia. 46 in (1,168 mm) Length 53.3 ft (16.2 m) Adhesive weight 50,643 lb (23.0 t) Loco weight 70,550 lb (32.0 t) Total weight 117,950 lb (54 t) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 160 psi (1 MPa) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 14 in × 20 in (356 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 11,590 lbf (51.55 kN)
Career Operators D&RG » D&RGW C&TSRR Class D&RG: 47, DRGW: T-12 Numbers D&RG 168 D&RGW 168 Retired 1938 (revenue service) Restored October 2019 Current owner The City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (operator) Disposition Operational, in occasional excursion service, based in Antonito, Colorado Rio Grande Engine No. 168 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Show map of Colorado Show map of the United States Location 9 S. Sierra Madre, Colorado Springs, Colorado Coordinates 38°50′3.4″N 104°49′41″W / 38.834278°N 104.82806°W / 38.834278; -104.82806 Area less than one acre Built 1883 Architect Baldwin Locomotive Works NRHP reference No. 79000601[4] Added to NRHP August 10, 1979

Denver and Rio Grande Western No. 168 is a class "T-12" 4-6-0 “Ten Wheeler” type narrow-gauge steam locomotive. It is one of twelve similar locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883. It was built as a passenger locomotive, with 46 in (1,200 mm) drivers, the largest drivers used on any three-foot gauge D&RGW locomotive. The large drivers made it suitable for relatively fast passenger service.

Various photographs show 168 during its working life. One shows it in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in 1904. Another shows it in Montrose, Colorado, west of Gunnison, at the head of a special train taking President William Howard Taft to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel which, at the time, was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world. There are also photographs, taken by Otto Perry, showing it in Alamosa in 1923 and Salida in 1929. It was retired in 1938 after a service life of 55 years.

The railroad gave it to the City of Colorado Springs on August 1, 1938. It was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesasRio Grande Engine No. 168 in 1979.^[4] Although it sat in Antlers Park, unprotected from the elements behind a low fence for so many years, it appeared to be in remarkable cosmetic condition when removed for restoration to operating condition in early 2016.

The city has arranged with the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) to have the engine restored to working order. The locomotive is now located in Antonito, Colorado.^[5]

Restoration was completed in October 2019. The restoration project was headed up by Cumbres and Toltec Special Projects department and led by Assistant General Manager Efstathios Papas. The project cost $508,000 and took 27 months to complete. The railroad intends to use this engine frequently and put it into normal service as much as possible.^[6]

D&RG 168 in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, 1904

Alamosa, 1923

After restoration as seen in 2021 at Antonito

D&RG 168 at the Ouray, Colorado engine house, showing what it looked like in its early years with a diamond stack and wooden pilot (cowcatcher). (Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR collection)

See also[edit]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in El Paso County, Colorado
• Rio Grande 169
• Rio Grande 223
• Rio Grande 268
• Rio Grande 278
• Rio Grande 315
• Rio Grande 463

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rio Grande Engine No. 168.