This winter and spring, the Museum’s Roundhouse Crew has been hard at work returning one of the Museum’s most beloved steam locomotives to the appearance it sported when first displayed at the Museum. Their efforts were on full display during the Museum’s recent “Colorado Crossings” event last month. Today, we’re taking a look back at Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) No. 491 during its final decades of service on the D&RGW. The paint scheme you see here is exactly what the Museum’s crews have worked hard to re-create!
Built in 1928, No. 491 is one of ten class K-37 2-8-2 “Mikado” steam locomotives constructed by D&RGW using a variety of components from retired standard gauge locomotives, including boilers, cabs and tenders. The Stearns-Roger company of Denver manufactured all-new frames, wheels, axles and more. Assembly was done at the railroad’s Burnham Shops complex, located just south of downtown Denver and recently in the news for Denver sports fans. No. 491 and its siblings remained in active service until 1963.
Donated by D&RGW in 1973 to the Colorado Historical Society (today’s History Colorado), it remained in storage in Alamosa until 1985, when a loan was arranged with the Colorado Railroad Museum. Placed on a disconnected display track that no longer exists, in what today is the main parking lot, the locomotive in 2013 was donated to the Museum. The following year, it was returned to service and pulled the very first THE POLAR EXPRESS(TM) Train Ride in Golden.
Photo 1: Right elevation of D&RGW Locomotive No. 491, with “Rio Grande” lettering on tender. Richard Kindig photo, Poncha Pass, CO, 1946. (D&RGW Photo Subject File, Colorado Railroad Museum)
Photo 2: Three-quarter view, left side visible, of D&RGW Locomotive No. 491 on wreck train in Salida, CO. Joe Schick photo, Salida, CO, 1947. (Basset Collection, Colorado Railroad Museum)
No. 491 today is the largest operational coal-fired narrow gauge steam locomotive in North America. Explore its history further HERE!
