Yellowstones and where they worked

[SOTATRR]

I was doing a little reading this morning. Does any one have any information about a DM&IR M4 working on the D&RGW Tennessee Pass in the winter of 1943 - 44?

Mike.

[nanaimo73]

D&RGW used M-3s during the winter of 42-43, and M-4s during the winter of 43-44. Apparently the DM&IR could not use them during the winter due to cold weather. Some of them, perhaps all, were used as helpers on Tennessee Pass.

[daveklepper]

It wasn't that the 2-8-8-4's could not RUN in cold weather, but simply the lake port was frozen and rail to lake transfer was recessed for the winter season.

[Anonymous]

Here's a nice article on Yellowstones in general, and the DM&IR in particular. 

 http://www.steamlocomotive.com/yellowstone/

I used to have a link to a story about the locos loaned the D&RG, including some pix of a wreck, but I can't find it anymore.

 

[Lost World]

For those of you with access to vintage issues of Trains magazine, might I suggest the article Ore Extra, by William D. Middleton, in the 11/1959 issue.  This is a good read chronicling a cab ride taken aboard DM&IR #228 in May 1959.  Great photography.

Trains also did an article on NP's Z-5 series in the March 1982 edition, for those interested in the originals.

[nanaimo73]

And there are 11 pages on Missabe's large steam locomotives in the 11-1980 issue. A picture of 224 after a runaway at Fireclay, CO, on Feb 7, 1943 is included.

[wjstix]

Think I answered this in another forum?? But yes, the War Production Board sent 10 brand new M4's to the Rio Grande in the winter of  '43-44. They were completed too late in the year to be put in service by the Missabe. The Missabe leased other engines to the DRGW, SP and ATSF during the war.

The Rio Grande wrote the DMIR afterwords, saying that the DMIR Yellowstones were the finest engines ever to run on the DRGW.  

Franklin Kings "Locomotives of the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range" would be the definitive source for info on Missabe steam.