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SoundTraxx - HOn3 - Blackstone Models Steam C-19 2-8-0 Consolidation, Weathered, w/Sound - Denver & Rio Grande Western No. RGS 40 (Rising Sun Herald on Tender, "40" on cab)(1945-51) (SKU 678-310212W-S)

Available On: October 1, 2013

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Rio Grande Southern 'Rising Sun' Herald, "40" on cab, Road Pilot, Round Steam Dome, Fluted Sand Dome, Box Headlight and Flared Short Tender with Sound
 
D&RGW No. 40
 
 No offering of the fabled C-Class locomotives would be complete without a noteworthy representative for the Rio Grande Southern Railroad! The RGS purchased many consolidations from the D&RG during its formative years and the vast majority of these were from the class 56 and Class 60 stables. While virtually all of the C-19 locomotives saw frequent service over the Southern, RGS 40 is one of only two of the 1881 Class 70 fleet that officially ended up on the RGS roster. The "Quartz Creek" arrived as road number 411 on one summer day in 1881. After seven years of service on the Gunnison Extension, the 411 was rebuilt into Class 74 standard gauge engine No. 802. Following 10 years of dutiful service on the broad gauge, the 802 returned to the narrow rails in 1898 rebuilt as class 74 D&RG No.402. The Rio Grande Southern purchased the 402 in the fall of 1916 (along with two other C-class engines) at which time it was renumbered 40. Through the years, the RGS 40 carried its own unique look with a mismatch of dome styles and a box headlight. Its appearance was largely unchanged until fate finally caught up with her in August of 1943. On this day, No. 40 was working up Cima Summit (outside of Hesperus, Colorado) while coupled with RGS ten wheeler No.20. The 40 derailed a driver on a curve and turned on her left side while taking helper No.20 over the ballast with her. Consequently, both engines suffered considerable damage. While No.20 was repaired and eventually returned to the RGS rails, number 40 was deemed unworthy of repair and thus took her turn to the scrapper’s torch.

Features:
  • Fluted sand dome and round style steam dome
  • Unique box style headlight
  • Steel sheathed cab sides
  • One 11- inch single stage compressor
  • Road style pilot
  • Prototypical running board arrangement
  • Number “40” on side of tender style livery 

?A Little C-19 History

 

 

From the late 1870s onward, the 2-8-0 wheel arrangement was no stranger to the narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grande Railway. However, one class of consolidation has the distinction of being the most powerful of all the 2-8-0s that were ordered from Baldwin Locomotive Works.

In the summer of 1881, twelve heavier consolidations arrived on the D&RG amidst a larger number of very similar, yet less powerful 2-8-0s. Numbered from 400 to 411 and designated as Class 70 (for approximately 70,000 pounds of weight), these locomotives found immediate use filling the power needs of the narrow gauge mainline from Salida to Gunnison via Marshall Pass. After faithfully serving the old Gunnison Division for a spell, five of these Class 70 engines were converted to standard gauge for use on wider rails in the 1890’s. These locomotives were converted back to narrow gauge by the turn of the century with a slight juxtaposition of their original road numbers. They continued to serve the railroad in various locations along the thriving narrow gauge. Around 1914, the Class 70 locomotives were fitted with new steel boilers in keeping with new laws enacted by the Interstate Commerce Commission concerning boiler safety. Along with these rebuilds came the appearance of longer, extended smokeboxes, electric headlights, and straight “shotgun” style smokestacks. This is the basic appearance that these venerable consolidations maintained for the rest of their service days. The D&RG re-organized as the Denver and Rio Grande Western in 1921, and in 1924 many locomotives were re-numbered in a motive power reclassification effort of the railroad. At this time, these ten remaining Class 70 engines became numbers 340-349 and were given a new designation of Class C-19.

 









$554.95 US