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Period of D&RGW 223's Greatest Historic Significance

In the 1880s, the narrow-gauge Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was expanding rapidly.[1][2] It was hastily constructing a main line to connect with Ogden, Utah.[3][4] The years 1881 and 1882 saw the greatest expansion in the railroad’s history.[5][6] It was laying down track in six different directions at once.[7][8][9]

D&RG 260, 267 and 287 (Class 60, C-16 engines) at the Cimarron, Colorado roundhouse, 1885. (Colorado Railroad Museum collection)

As a result of this rapid expansion, the railroad placed a massive order for engines (numbers 200-295), virtually all of which were delivered in 1881-1882. This order (which included D&RGW 223) was the largest order of three-foot-gauge engines ever made.[10][11][12]

D&RG 218 and other engines at Salida, Colorado, ca 1900.

This dramatically transformed Colorado and Utah.[13][14][15][16][17][18] Freight rates dropped to a fraction of what they had been before, when the only option was by wagon or on the back of a mule.[19][20][21] As a result, greatly expanded markets were opened up for farming, mining and ranching operations.[22] D&RGW 223 and the other Class 60 (C-16) engines were the centerpiece of the Rio Grande’s explosive growth period, and the sea change in the economy and immense population growth in the region that it brought.[23][24][25][26]

There are well over a thousand steam engines still in existence in the United States (on display in parks, museums and in operation).[27] The vast majority of these were built in the 20th century.[28] D&RGW 223 is one of the rare survivors from the 1800s.[29][30]
D&RG 227 (Class 60, C-16) built by Grant Locomotive Works.
D&RG 225 (Class 60, C-16) pictured in Baldwin Magazine, ca 1881.
D&RGW 223 and other Class 60 (C-16) engines were often in service for several decades. Over the course of their lives many original engineering elements were replaced with more modern components, such as straight stacks, round headlights and steel pilots (cowcatchers), as seen in this photo, which shows the engine’s configuration in the 20th century. Recently ownership of D&RGW 223 has been transferred to the city of Ogden, Utah, which must now consider how to restore it, and whether or not to incorporate some of its 1800s design elements.[31][32][33]

In the 1800s, D&RGW 223 and her sister Class 60 (C-16) engines were the premier motive power for the railroad, hauling passenger trains and top-priority freight trains. The Rio Grande gradually converted its main routes to standard gauge, and by the 20th century, the narrow-gauge Class 60 (C-16) engines, such as D&RGW 223, were either scrapped or relegated to lower priority trains on secondary routes and branch lines.[34][35][36]

  1. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 98-114, 123, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  2. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  3. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 98-114, 123, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  4. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  5. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 98-114, 123, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  6. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  7. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 98-114, 123, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  8. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  9. ^ Danneman, Herbert. A Ticket to Ride the Narrow Gauge, pp. 38-40, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, Colorado, 2000. ISBN 0-918654-24-6.
  10. ^ Chappell, Gordon. Scenic Line of the World, p. 16, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, Colorado,1970.
  11. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  12. ^ Lathrop, Gilbert A. Little Engines and Big Men, p. 74, Caxton Printers, Ltd., Caldwell, Idaho, 1955.
  13. ^ Locklin, D. Philip. Economics of Transportation, pp. 1-7, 11, 16-17, 38, 107, 109, 112, 136-7, Richard D. Irwin, Inc., Homewood, Illinois, 1972.
  14. ^ Blum, John M. et al. The National Experience: A History of the United States, p. 298-9, 395, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., New York, New York, 1963.
  15. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 4-5, 16-25, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  16. ^ Beebe, Lucius and Clegg, Charles. Narrow Gauge in the Rockies, p. 31, Howell-North, Berkeley, California, 1958.
  17. ^ Davidson, James West, et al. American Nation: Independence Through 1914, p. 304, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2000. ISBN 0-13-434888-5.
  18. ^ LeMassena, Robert A. Rio Grande ... to the Pacific! pp. 30, 316-17, 323, 345, 349, Sundance Limited, Denver, Colorado, 1974. ISBN 0-913582-09-3.
  19. ^ Athern, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 4-5, 16-25, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  20. ^ Kraus, George. High Road to Promontory, p. 38, 305-7, Castle Books, New York, New York, 1969.
  21. ^ Parker, Dana T. “The Significance of the Railroad,” Ridgway Railroad Museum Newsletter, p. 12-13, Ridgway, Colorado, February 2024.
  22. ^ LeMassena, Robert A. Rio Grande ... to the Pacific! pp. 30, 316-7, 323, 345, 349, Sundance Limited, Denver, Colorado, 1974. ISBN 0-913582-09-3.
  23. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 16-25, 100, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  24. ^ Day, Jerry B. “History of D&RGW Locomotive Number 268,” p. 3, The Prospector, Volume 2, Number 3, Third Quarter 2003, The Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  25. ^ Danneman, Herbert. A Ticket to Ride the Narrow Gauge, pp. 29, 56, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, Colorado, 2000. ISBN 0-918654-24-6
  26. ^ LeMassena, Robert A. Rio Grande ... to the Pacific! pp. 30-41, Sundance Limited, Denver, Colorado, 1974. ISBN 0-913582-09-3.
  27. ^ Koenigsberg, Victor. U.S. Steam Locomotive Directory, pp. 1-201, Victor Koenigsburg, San Diego, California, 1967.
  28. ^ Koenigsberg, Victor. U.S. Steam Locomotive Directory, pp. 1-201, Victor Koenigsburg, San Diego, California, 1967.
  29. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” p. 3, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  30. ^ LeMassena, Robert A. Rio Grande ... to the Pacific! pp. 38-41, Sundance Limited, Denver, Colorado, 1974. ISBN 0-913582-09-3.
  31. ^ Weist, Ellen, Public Information Officer. "Utah Historical Society Approves Ownership Transfer of Locomotive 223 to Ogden," Press Release, Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, October 26, 2023 (https://apigateway.agilitypr.com/distributions/history/afb7c2b6-4985-4807-ba87-8399f166ecf2). Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  32. ^ "Inspection of 223 for Possible Restoration Work," Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Ogden, Utah, November 5, 2021 (https://gsrlhs.home.blog/2021/11/05/223-inspection-for-possible-restoration-work/) Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  33. ^ "223 Retirement Background," C-16 Society (https://c16locomotive.com/Locomotives/No223). Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  34. ^ Day, Jerry B. “Rio Grande’s Grant-Built C-16 Number 223,” pp. 3-13, The Prospector, Vol. 4, Number 1, First Quarter 2006, Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  35. ^ Athearn, Robert G. Rebel of the Rockies: A History of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, pp. 151, 166-7, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, 1962.
  36. ^ LeMassena, Robert A. Rio Grande ... to the Pacific! pp. 30-41, Sundance Limited, Denver, Colorado, 1974. ISBN 0-913582-09-3.
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