Joe Dailey
DURANGO, Colo. – Former Southern Pacific narrow gauge 4-6-0 No. 18 steamed up for the first time in Durango on Thursday. It is on loan to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for crew training on oil-burning locomotives. The locomotive, from the Carson & Colorado Railway in Independence, Calif., was trucked to Colorado earlier this month to assist in familiarizing crews who normally operate coal-fired locomotives. There is no set operating schedule. No. 18 is expected to remain in Colorado until mid-2019.
There is actually a somewhat set schedule for when 18 will be running. According to a recent announcement by the railroad on their facebook page, the locomotive will be powering the regular trains on certain Thursdays in both January and February. She will also be pulling an excursion to Silverton later in the spring.
Add riding behind #18 to your to-do list! I saw her operating last year at the Laws Railroad Museum. Great experience!