Rio Grande #168 has been in a park in Colorado Springs since the 1930's...now there's a proposal to restore & operate it on the Cumbres & Toltec. I'd love to see it operate again, but I have to see General Palmer's hometown lose part of it's RR heritage.
http://gazette.com/side-streets-old-168-rotting-and-rusting-could-have-new-life-ahead/article/1541455
Here is what she looks like now.
I can see no negative about this: the engine will still belong to the city and it will be restored to full operation. What more could you ask for?
Glen Brewer
Railroad Glory Days on FacebookRailroadGloryDays.com
I remember seeing that cool old engine in Colorado Springs years ago, and if the funds can be raised to bring it back to life then why not? Why ever not? Hot and steaming beats cold and rotting any day of the week, especially if the city can't come up with the funds to at least keep it presentable.
However, I'd try to keep it in the C-Springs area if at all possible. There's still quite a bit of open land around there, not as much as there used to be, but still there. In addition to restoring the engine why not build a mile or two of narrow gauge track, or even re-gauging some out-of-use standard gauge track in the area? A live steam 'road would be a good C-Springs tourist draw.
If not, then let it run free on the Cumbres and Toltec or the Durango and Silverton.
Firelock76 I remember seeing that cool old engine in Colorado Springs years ago, and if the funds can be raised to bring it back to life then why not? Why ever not? Hot and steaming beats cold and rotting any day of the week, especially if the city can't come up with the funds to at least keep it presentable. However, I'd try to keep it in the C-Springs area if at all possible. There's still quite a bit of open land around there, not as much as there used to be, but still there. In addition to restoring the engine why not build a mile or two of narrow gauge track, or even re-gauging some out-of-use standard gauge track in the area? A live steam 'road would be a good C-Springs tourist draw. If not, then let it run free on the Cumbres and Toltec or the Durango and Silverton.
When you start talking about getting land and laying NG track, that's a whole different level of costs involved.
I'd love to see the engine restored and steaming of course-it was cosmetically restored years ago, but as you can see in the pics above, time is taking it's toll. I just hate to see it leaving General Palmer's city-it's been in the park across the street from the old Rio Grande depot for many, many years.
Should put it on a flat bed and haul it to the Strasburg RR - those Amish guys should make short work in the rebuild of a locomotive that size - it would probably run like a champ for the next 100 years!
Saturated steam, no superheat, all brass bushings, low pressure boiler, simple cab appliances, much wood construction. Wow and the real "old west" in its iron bones!
Am sure one of those tourist railroads has an unused steamer they could put in its place that would be just as meaningful for casual history purposes.
How can this engine still have its whistle, bell, number boards and headlight still in place - some kind of local town ethic or is it lost and out of sight from the public?
Dr. D.
Depending on how many irons they have in the fire at this time I'm sure the Strasburg boys would LOVE to get their hands on it. A straightforward steamer, nothing exotic on it, depending on what shape it's in internally it'd be a cakewalk for 'em.
Thechief66 Rio Grande #168 has been in a park in Colorado Springs since the 1930's...now there's a proposal to restore & operate it on the Cumbres & Toltec. I'd love to see it operate again, but I have to see General Palmer's hometown lose part of it's RR heritage. http://gazette.com/side-streets-old-168-rotting-and-rusting-could-have-new-life-ahead/article/1541455 That would be an interesting project to bring to fruition, but, if possible, would it not be even better if #169 which sits on display in Alamosa was the one to be restored and operated on the line from Alamosa to Antonito. This is historicaly a three rail line and it has been talked over to restore that too. Imagine the ride you could have from La Veta to Alamosa, to Antonito, to Chama. What a draw that would be.
#168 left Colorado Springs on wednesday, headed to Antonito.
Looking forward to riding behind it after restoration!
http://fox21news.com/2015/09/23/old-168-is-going-back-home-to-get-a-new-life/
The boys on the c& ts or the d&s can make short of the job of restoring her as well. Heck they been doing it for the last 100 years.
I wonder how many people in col. Springs would miss her? One would think that after restoration, those in Col springs who do , wouldn't mind the drive to see her operational again.
I hope someone is taking careful notes on the progress of this effort, with particular attention to the people and organizations involved and their interaction with public and government officials in the Springs and elsewhere.
This will be useful to take to, say, Elkhart in a year or two, as part of a presentation...
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