Denver & Rio Grande Western K-37s are 2-8-2

2-8-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

, Mikado type, narrow gauge

Narrow gauge

A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...

 steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

s. They were originally built by Baldwin

Baldwin

- United States of America :* Baldwin, Florida* Baldwin, Georgia* Baldwin, Illinois* Baldwin, Iowa* Baldwin, Louisiana* Baldwin, Maine* Baldwin, Maryland* Baldwin, Michigan* Baldwin, Chemung County, New York* Baldwin, Nassau County, New York...

 as part of an order for thirty standard gauge

Standard gauge

The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...

 2-8-0

2-8-0

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...

, Consolidation type, locomotives, class 190, in 1902. They were renumbered into class C-41 during the railroad's reorganization in 1924 and were converted to three foot gauge in 1928-30 at the railroad's Burnham Shops with many new parts including new frames and smaller drivers. They were then renumbered into class K-37.

The locos worked out of Salida, Colorado

Salida, Colorado

The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...

 to Gunnison, Colorado

Gunnison, Colorado

The historic City of Gunnison, a Home Rule Municipality, is the county seat and the most populous city of Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,854. It was named in honor of John W...

 and up the Crested Butte Branch

Crested Butte, Colorado

Crested Butte is a Home Rule Municipality in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States. A former coal mining town now called "the last great Colorado ski town," Crested Butte is a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities...

 as well as the Monarch Branch

Monarch Branch

The Monarch Branch was a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western which left the narrow gauge transcontinental route at Poncha Junction a few miles west of Salida, Colorado. The narrow gauge branch built in the 1880s served Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone quarry at Monarch, Colorado...

. The locos also worked out of Alamosa, Colorado

Alamosa, Colorado

The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005...

 to Antonito

Antonito, Colorado

The Town of Antonito is a statutory town located in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town's population was 873.-Geography:...

 over Cumbres Pass

Cumbres Pass

Cumbres Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by State Highway 17 and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The highway has a moderate 5.8% approach on the north side and a gentler, 4% approach on the south side...

 to Chama

Chama, New Mexico

Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is a small village, but tourism is starting to help the town's economy .-Geography:...

 and on to Durango

Durango, Colorado

The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...

 and the Farmington

Farmington, New Mexico

Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...

 Branch. Like the K-36s the locos were not permitted West of Gunnison or on the Silverton branch. However, the Silverton

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates of track between Durango and Silverton, in the US state of Colorado...

 branch has since been upgraded to take K-36s.

Of the eight preserved K-37s, only #497 has been operational, both on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates of track between Durango and Silverton, in the US state of Colorado...

 and on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over the Cumbres Pass, the highest point on a US passenger railway....

 but it is now awaiting a major overhaul.

Although the K-37s are actually about 2% lighter than the K-36s, they have proven to be much harder on track. Although the D&S originally owned four of the K-37s, they found that the longer engines were too hard on their track, so they traded #497 to the C&TS for K-36 #482 and #499 to Royal Gorge Park in Canon City

Cañon City, Colorado

The City of Cañon City is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Fremont County, State of Colorado. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 16,000 in 2005. Cañon City is noted for being the location of nine state and four ...

 for #486.

Roster

Class K-37 Number	Class 190 Number	Class C-41 Number	Builder's Number	Rebuilt in	Current Owner	Notes
490	1114	1014	20695	1928	n/a	Retired 1962 Dismantled 1963-64
491	1126	1026	20829	1928	Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden Golden, Colorado The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...	Retired 1970
492	1121	1021	20749	1928	C&TS	To C&TS 1970
493	1105	1005	20550	1928	D&SNG	Retired 1970 To D&SNG 3/1981 At Freight House Museum, Silverton
494	1120	1020	20748	1928	C&TS	Retired 1962 To C&TS 1970
495	1104	1004	20522	1928	C&TS	Retired 1962 To C&TS 1970
496	1123	1023	20751	1930	n/a	Thought to be Dismantled 1/31/1955, Recently Discovered in a Barn near Salida, Colorado (this story was a hoax, it was an Aprill Fools joke see link: http://railroadfalseheadlines.wordpress.com/)
497	1103	1003	20521	1930	C&TS	To D&SNG 3/1981 Traded to C&TS for #482, 1991
498	1109	1009	20640	1930	D&SNG	To D&SNG 3/1981
499	1125	1025	20753	1930	Royal Gorge Park Canon City	Retired 1970 To D&SNG 3/1981 Traded to Royal Gorge Park for #486, 1999