Time Machine: The Return of an As-Built K-36

In the winter of 2021-2022, the Cumbres and Toltec did a major rework of one of its 1925 built Baldwin Locomotive Works K-36 that included a new smoke box. While doing this, the decision was made to backdate the engine to it's as built appearance and even some of the mechanical innards. Inside the smokebox, the "Cyclone" spark arrestor has been replaced with a "Master Mechanic Front End" ( for more on the cyclone front ends, check out ‪@Hyce777‬ 's video here : • Why doesn't D&RGW 491 ... . ‪@Hyce777‬ has also provided photos of the Master Mechanic screen to show you what it looks like, albeit in Rio Grande Southern 20). Outside, the cleanout ports were restored to operation, and the train indicator boards reinstalled. The headlight has lost its visor and the cab regained some windows above the boiler that had long been blanked out by the D&RGW. Meanwhile, the entire locomotive was repainted by some Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad employees that made the trek over to help out. The tender lost its 'doghouse' as it wasn't built with one, and lettering inspired by the original Denver and Rio Grande Western was applied by the Akin Brothers from Texas.
We'll start off with the morning ritual of the engineer oiling around his locomotives as we bask in the sights of the Chama Yard on a beautiful late summer day. From there, we'll watch as the 488 leads its train under Jukes' Tree and across the 'first crossing'. Next, we'll head to 'Lake Lobato' where we'll catch an aerial shot of it disappearing into the aspen tree groves. Climbing up out of Lobato we'll then see it at Dalton with Rabbit Peak in the background. For our next sequence, we'll head to the New Mexico / Colorado State Border where once again we'll take to the skies. Perry's Pond and Coxo Crossing are hit up next with the final arrival up into Cumbres Pass.
In the late summer of 2022, a ghostly apparition of a familiar face could be seen climbing the slopes of Cumbres Pass.
K-36 # 488 took to the rails of this famed crossing of the Rocky Mountains as it had for the last ninety-seven years, but instead of the appearance we’ve seen over the last few years, the original visage of its as-built appearance now took over.
Needing a complete smokebox replacement due to the corrosive effects of being a coal-burning steam locomotive, it was decided in addition to backdate the locomotive as much as possible to her August 1925 appearance when she first took to the rails fresh off the Baldwin factory floor from Eddystone Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia.
The vast majority of the inside of the boiler remained the same, but inside the smoke box, the cyclone front end was removed and replaced with a Master Mechanic front end. This setup involves a mesh that will cause the biggest cinders to fall before even exiting the smokebox. Since the mesh is now inside the smokebox the traditional cap that would normally be seen atop the stack was removed. In addition, the inspection ports that had long ago been welded up on the original were cut in.
The headlight was modified by removing the visor that was not present originally. Below and to each side of the headlight were original style classification lamps to let those trackside know whether or not the train was scheduled, extra, or a section.
Further below, the pilot-mounted flanger was removed
Atop the dynamo, the steam-powered generator that provides the electricity for the lights, a new exhaust stack to mimic the original was placed.
On the cab, the plated-over windows between the front doors were opened back up and new glass installed.
Meanwhile, the tender behind had its doghouse and vertical coal bunker extensions removed. The length horizontally was not shortened but in 2023 a new cistern built by Custom Fabrication in Farmington New Mexico to replace the iteration seen here arrived on the property. This new cistern is built to the dimensions of the Baldwin Factory version.
Across the locomotive, a coat of gloss black was painted, and the fonts all matched the original aluminum that came on the locomotive from Pennsylvania. The tender did not receive the spelled out ‘Denver and Rio Grande Western’ however, and in lieu received ‘Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad’. This was requested by the railroad commission and is one of the only external variances to the factory version.
One of the few changes not made to the 488 was the brake stand as it still has the 6ET instead of the A1 it was originally equipped with.
Join me as we leave the Chama Yard Limit, we're not Delayed in Block as there's no Distant Signal on this railroad, nor do we have to worry about a Coaster as it's not a commuter railroad, nor are there any diesels with V12 engines.