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Rio Grande 463

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Coordinates: 36°54′10.4″N 106°34′40.7″W / 36.902889°N 106.577972°W / 36.902889; -106.577972
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D&RGW 463
Sister D&RGW No. 453, well known for being a switcher at Durango, Colorado
Type and origin
References:[1][2]
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number21788
Build dateApril 1903
Rebuild date2009–May 2013
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1′D1′ v, later 1′D1′ h
Gauge3 ft (914 mm)[3]
Leading dia.28 in (711 mm)
Driver dia.40 in (1,016 mm)
Trailing dia.28 in (711 mm)
Wheelbase24.5 ft (7.47 m)
Length33.7 ft (10.27 m)
Adhesive weight105,425 lb (47,820 kg; 48 t)
Loco weight136,650 lb (61,983 kg; 62 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Superheateryes, later
CylindersOriginal: Four Vauclain compound,
Later: Two, simple
Cylinder sizeOriginal: 13 in × 22 in (330 mm × 559 mm)
and 22 in × 22 in (559 mm × 559 mm)
Later: 17 in × 22 in (432 mm × 559 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typeOriginal: slide valves
Later: piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort27,000 lbf (120 kN)
Career
Operators
Class
Number in class14 of 15
Numbers
  • D&RG 463
  • D&RGW 463
  • C&TSRR 463
  • RGS 455
NicknamesMudhen
Retired1950s (revenue service)
2002 (1st excursion service)
Restored1994 (1st restoration)
May 2013 (2nd restoration)
DispositionOperational, in service on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
Engine No. 463
Rio Grande 463 is located in New Mexico
Rio Grande 463
Rio Grande 463 is located in the United States
Rio Grande 463
LocationC&TS shops, Chama, New Mexico
Coordinates36°54′10.4″N 106°34′40.7″W / 36.902889°N 106.577972°W / 36.902889; -106.577972
Area0 acres (0 ha)
Built1903
ArchitectBaldwin Locomotive Works
NRHP reference No.75000502 [4]
CSRHP No.5CN.68
Added to NRHPMay 12, 1975

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (Denver and Rio Grande Western) No. 463 is a 3-foot narrow-gauge class "K-27" 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam railway locomotive built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1903. It is one of two remaining locomotives of D&RGW class K-27, the other one being No. 464 at the Huckleberry Railroad in Genesee Township, Michigan. The class eventually became known by the nickname "Mudhens". Today, No. 463 is operational on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado.

Fifteen locomotives were built, originally class 125, then reclassified K-27 in 1924 when the D&RG became the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). The K-27s were built as Vauclain compounds, with two cylinders on each side, expanding the steam once in the smaller cylinder and then a second time in the larger one. The extra maintenance costs of the two cylinders were greater than the fuel saving, so they were converted to simple expansion in 1907–1909.[2] They were Rio Grande's last purchase of compound locomotives. They pulled freight, passenger and mixed trains on the D&RGW in and over the Colorado Rocky Mountains, traversing the entire length of the railroad. They were built with their main structural frames outside the driving wheels, with the counterweights and rods attached outside the frames.

No. 463 was sold to cowboy actor and singer Gene Autry in May 1955.[5] Autry never used the engine and donated it to the town of Antonito, Colorado. It was restored by and entered into service on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in 1994. It was taken out of service with a broken side rod in 2002. In 2009, it was moved to the railroad's shop at Chama, New Mexico where a major rebuild was taken until completion in Spring 2013.[6] On May 20, 2013, the restored locomotive made its inaugural run on the C&TSRR.[7]

No. 463 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as Engine No. 463.

Film Credits

The D&RGW engine No. 463 appeared in season 1, episode 38 of Gunsmoke on August 18, 1956 as Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway No. 463. The episode was entitled "Unmarked Grave". It also appeared at the beginning of an episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater which originally aired on December 7, 1956. Season 1, Episode 10 was titled "Return to Nowhere". In 2014, Engine 463 made a small appearance as D&RGW No. 463 in the movie A Million Ways to Die in the West. It also appeared in the 2018 movie Hostiles. It also appeared in The March 14, 1959 episode of "Wanted Dead or Alive" called "Railroaded". The engine was not credited.

See also

References

  1. ^ Official Roster No. 11 of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad System. Denver: The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad System. April 1, 1923. p. 94.
  2. ^ a b Brewster, Allen J. (March and June, 1973). "D&RG's K-27, parts 1 and 2". Model Railroader. Milwaukee: Kalmbach. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Steamlocomotive.info
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "Denver & Rio Grande Locomotive History: 463". Rio Grande Modeling and Historical Society. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  6. ^ "A chronicle of the rebuilding of D&RGW locomotive #463". DRGW463.COM. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  7. ^ Miller, Janneli (2013-07-01). "Going loco over locomotives". Four Corners Free Press. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  • O'Berry, Dennis. (1995). The Mudhens, A Photographic History.
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