The "Sports Model". Looking positively resplendent in her green boiler jacket, and sporting the old D&RGW "toilet seat" herald, Locomotive 478 hauls a fast passenger train across the high steel trestle at Tacoma on the eastbound run to Durango. The 478 is an Alco, K-28, built in Schenectady, NY in 1923, and she's one of just 3 left in existence. The D&RGW bought 10 of these so-called "Sports Models", but during World War II, seven of them were shipped up to Alaska to work on the White Pass & Yukon. Unfortunately, the Army pretty much beat those locomotives to death. When the war ended, they were all declared scrap. The 473, 476 and 478 are the survivors. Today the 473 and 478 continue to see occasional service on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The 476 is (temporarily at least) retired, and resides in the DSNG Museum in Durango.
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad are all that remains of the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge system. Here you'll find some of my favorites from these two beautiful railways.
