DURANGO, Colo. — The final chapter of the long history of coal-powered trains on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad came Saturday, March 23, with a round-trip excursion between Durango and Cascade, Colo., handled by a Baldwin Class K-36 2-8-2 No. 481.
The locomotive will now be converted to oil firing, completing conversion of the roster that began with K-37 No. 493 in 2020 [see “Tests continue on first Durango & Silverton oil-burner …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 5, 2020]. The process was hastened by fire concerns, including settlement of a federal lawsuit stemming from a 2018 wildfire in which the railroad agreed to new operating procedures during periods of elevated fire risk [see “Durango & Silverton settles lawsuits …,” News Wire, March 22, 2022]. The railroad has also made increased use of diesel locomotives, including four units purchased from the White Pass & Yukon.
The railroad had originally planned to keep No. 481 coal-fired until the end of its current 1,481-day boiler certification, but said earlier this year that business had reached the point that it needed to know every steam locomotive was available [see “Durango & Silverton runs its final coal-powered photo snow train,” News Wire, Feb. 16, 2024].
Ah, getting the proverbial coal cinder in the eye is gone for good.
As it has been stated, if it will reduce fire hazards, then it’s good.
But, it’s tragic that we can’t use America’s most plentiful natural resource.
It happened to me !
And we will miss the sharp bark of the exhaust of a coal burner.
mainly it is for the better it’s still will be a steam locomotive no manner what fuel it’s using whether it was burning wood, coal, or oil
As if it wouldn’t be available as a coal fired locomotive…that one is a lame excuse, the fire one a little more relevant but that is mostly on the Forest Service and BLM for not managing our forest resources properly with Native American input as they are now beginning to do(i.e., not suppressing natural fires as much, they’re natural for a reason).
Sad, the smell of coal is really something future generations will never experience. Understandable in light of the fire dangers though.