Locomotive 315
The Lives, Times, and Rebirth
of an 1895 Steam Engine
George F. Niederauer
Chief Author & Editor
© 2010, Durango Railroad Historical Society
Table of Contents
FOREWORD .................................................................................xi
PREFACE ....................................................................................xiii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................xv
GENERAL CHRONOLOGY ..................................................xvii
INTRODUCTION......................................................................xix
PART I. HISTORY
1. Cripple Creek ..........................................................................1
Gold ..........................................................................................3
Trails to Rails .....................................................................10
First Railroad to Cripple Creek District ..................11
First F&CC Locomotives ................................................21
Boom Time, Competition Begins ...............................28
Camps Become Cities ......................................................35
New Century, New Competition, Decline ...............39
Survivors ..............................................................................42
2. D&RG Prologue ....................................................................43
Genesis of Colorado Railroads ....................................43
General William Jackson Palmer ................................43
D&RG Builds South............................................................44
D&RG Builds West ............................................................46
D&RG Without Palmer ....................................................46
The Stage Was Set..............................................................50
3. Rio Grande ..............................................................................51
D&RG 425 (1917) .............................................................52
Changing Economic Factors .........................................54
Disruption – Rescue – Perseverance
(1917–1923) .................................................................56
D&RGW 315 and Prosperity (1924–1928) ...........62
Depression and Decline (1929-1934) .....................67
A New Era (1935–1941).................................................71
Train Operations ...............................................................79
4. Durango ...................................................................................93
Railroad Town.....................................................................93
Recollections: Richardson .............................................96
Switcher ................................................................................97
World War II .......................................................................98
Modernization..................................................................103
Post War .............................................................................105
Recollections: Phillips ..................................................111
Aftermath ..........................................................................113
5. Movies....................................................................................115
Groundwork .....................................................................115
Colorado Territory .........................................................116
A Ticket to Tomahawk ..................................................117
Denver and Rio Grande .................................................118
Around the World in 80 Days ......................................119
Movie Bubble ....................................................................124
6. Retirement ...........................................................................125
Brookside Park ................................................................125
End of Steam .....................................................................130
Gateway Park ...................................................................138
End of D&RGW ................................................................139
PERSPECTIVES
1. Pikes Peak .................................................................................3
2. Gold...............................................................................................4
3. Colorado Gold Routes ..........................................................5
4. Colorado Mineral Belt ..........................................................5
5. Discovery vs. Riches .............................................................6
6. Cripple Creek Gold District.................................................8
7. Black Gold ...............................................................................10
8. Why Narrow Gauge? ..........................................................11
9. Peak Colorado Railroad Construction ........................12
10. Inflation ................................................................................13
11. Grades and Curves ...........................................................14
12. Locomotive Classification..............................................20
13. Phantom Canyon ..............................................................39
14. Colorado Railway Abandonment ..............................40
15. First True Transcontinental Railroad......................44
16. Jay Gould...............................................................................45
17. Railroad Mountain Passes.............................................46
18. Narrow vs. Standard Gauge .........................................46
19. D&RG Corporate Names ................................................47
20. Rise and Decline of Rio Grande Narrow Gauge....47
21. Interstate Commerce Commission ...........................52
22. Couplers ...............................................................................53
23. D&RG Locomotives, End of 1917...............................53
24. Peak and Decline of U.S. Railroads ...........................55
25. New York to Paris ............................................................56
26. Narrow Gauge Circle ......................................................58
27. Railways Express Agency..............................................63
28. D&RGW Locomotives, End of 1930 ..........................66
29. D&RGW Locomotives, End of 1940 ..........................79
30. Telegraph and Radio .......................................................83
31. Durango Switch Engines................................................96
32. Classification of Locomotive Repairs ......................97
33. Carnotite and Uranium ...............................................101
34. Chicago Railroad Fair ..................................................107
35. D&RGW Locomotives, End of 1950 .......................110
36. Diesel-Electric Locomotives .....................................112
37. Rio Grande Gold .............................................................117
38. Hollywood of the Rockies...........................................121
39. 315 Reaches End of the Line ....................................126
40. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ........................136
41. Santa Rita Park ...............................................................138
42. D&S Railroad Improvements ...................................139
ILLUSTRATIONS
MAPS
Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad ................................2
Gold Region with Routes Thereto .......................................4
Colorado Mineral Belt ..............................................................5
Geological Map of Cripple Creek Mining District .........8
Railroads Related to Cripple Creek Region......................9
Canon City Oil District ...........................................................10
F&CC Railroad ...........................................................................14
Cripple Creek Rail Lines........................................................16
Florence Rail Lines
(with F&CC yard enlargement)…………………………17
Cripple Creek District Railroads .........................................37
Canon City & Cripple Creek Railroad Yard
at Canon City ..........................................................................40
Original Plan for D&RG Route .............................................48
D&RG Route Filed for Incorporation in 1870...............48
D&RGW Routes and Divisions in 1923 ...........................49
Narrow Gauge Circle ..............................................................58
Narrow Gauge Circle Stations.............................................60
Ouray Branch ............................................................................88
D&RGW Durango Yard...........................................................94
D&RGW Sources of Freight..................................................95
GRAPHS
1. Cripple Creek Gold Production ........................................8
2. Florence & Cripple Creek Grade Profile – 1895......14
3. D&RG Narrow Gauge Track ............................................47
4. D&RG(W) Revenue..............................................................76
5. D&RG(W) Passenger Trips..............................................76
6. Number of D&RG(W) Steam Locomotives ..............76
7. D&RG(W) Steam Locomotives Power .......................76
8. Narrow and Standard Gauge Locomotive
Tractive Effort ..................................................................77
9. Narrow and Standard Gauge Locomotive
Weight ..................................................................................77
10. 315 Tractive Effort vs. other Narrow Gauge
Locomotives.......................................................................77
11. 315 Weight vs. other Narrow Gauge
Locomotives ......................................................................77
FIGURES
F&CC First Timetable ............................................................15
Florence & Cripple Creek Time Table 1895 ................31
D&RGW Station Rosters, Selected,
Narrow Gauge Circle – 1923 ......................................59
Work Orders and Clearance Card....................................64
Restoration Reference Photos ................................78
TABLES
1. D&RG Locomotives Leased by F&CC
From 1894–98 ...................................................................13
2. Inflation Factors .................................................................13
3. Some Specifications for F&CC Locomotives
Numbers 1–6 ......................................................................21
4. Renamed Class 72 Engines ............................................52
5. D&RG Narrow Gauge Locomotive Roster,
End of 1917 .........................................................................53
6. Commercial Intercity Traffic
in the United States ........................................................54
7. Peak U.S. Railroad Activities..........................................54
8. D&RGW and RGS Stations,
Narrow Gauge Circle, 1923 ..........................................61
9. D&RG Freight Traffic, 1923 ...........................................62
10. D&RGW Narrow Gauge Locomotives.
End of 1925, Renumbered .........................................62
11. Use of Narrow Gauge Locomotives..........................65
12. D&RGW Narrow Gauge Locomotive Roster,
End of 1930 ......................................................................66
13. D&RGW 315 Train Movements – 1939 .................75
14. D&RG Narrow Gauge Locomotive Roster,
End of 1940 ..................79
15. Freight Commodities on Gunnison Line ................87
16. Engine Tonnage Limit ....................................................87
17. D&RGW 315 Towed to Alamosa –1941 ..................88
18. Durango Freight Traffic in 1941 & 1948 ................95
19. Silverton Freight Traffic in 1941 & 1948 ...............95
20. Durango - Antonito Freight Commodity –
Carload in 1941 & 1948 ...............................................95
21. D&RGW 315 Trip to Durango – 1941 ......................97
22. Chronology of 315 Operations .................................108
23. D&RGW Narrow Gauge Locomotive Roster,
End of 1950 ....................................................................111
24. Durango and Silverton Area Railroad Movies ...124
25. D&RGW Narrow Gauge Locomotive Roster,
End of 1955 ....................................................................135
26. Decline of Steam Locomotives on D&RGW ........135
27. Preserved Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotives:
D&RGW, F&CC, RGS ....................................................139
PART II. RESTORATION
A Note About Part II .............................................................143
7. Getting Started ...................................................................145
Paint Job .............................................................................145
Escalation ...........................................................................147
The Society ........................................................................148
Historic Landmark .........................................................149
Restoration Intent ..........................................................150
8. 2001 .......................................................................................151
First Steps ..........................................................................151
Dirty Work .........................................................................151
Boiler Prep ........................................................................152
Movie Props ......................................................................154
Cylinders.............................................................................154
Summing Up .....................................................................155
9. 2002 .......................................................................................157
Pilot ......................................................................................157
Board Business ................................................................157
Boiler Evaluation.............................................................157
Ultrasonic Test ................................................................158
Hydrostatic Test .............................................................158
Flue Removal ....................................................................159
Cab ........................................................................................160
Visitors!...............................................................................160
Recap ...................................................................................160
10. 2003 ....................................................................................161
Boiler ...................................................................................161
Front End ..........................................................................163
Tender.................................................................................163
Cab .......................................................................................163
Board Business ...............................................................168
Transition .........................................................................168
11. 2004 ....................................................................................169
Appliances..........................................................................169
Tender..................................................................................169
Air Brakes ..........................................................................172
Boiler ...................................................................................175
Driving and Running Gear ..........................................176
Cab ........................................................................................176
Pilot Area ...........................................................................177
Board Business ................................................................177
12. 2005 ......................................................................................179
Boiler ....................................................................................179
Driving Gear.......................................................................181
Running Gear ....................................................................182
Brakes ..................................................................................188
Appliances..........................................................................189
Cab ........................................................................................189
Tender..................................................................................192
Board Business ................................................................193
Historical Register...........................................................194
Turning Point ...................................................................194
18. Venture ..............................................................................353
Supporters.........................................................................353
Lessons Learned ............................................................355
13. 2006 .....................................................................................195
Cab ........................................................................................195
Engine House ...................................................................199
Boiler ...................................................................................199
Appliances & Piping ......................................................211
Brakes .................................................................................217
Driving Gear......................................................................221
Tender.................................................................................229
National Narrow Gauge Convention .....................232
Board Business ...............................................................232
A Goal Too Far ................................................................232
ILLUSTRATIONS
14. 2007 - At the Park ..........................................................233
Driving Gear.......................................................................233
Cab ........................................................................................242
Appliances..........................................................................245
Boiler ...................................................................................249
Electric Lights ..................................................................254
Brakes ..................................................................................256
Tender..................................................................................257
Paint .....................................................................................259
Testing at the Park .........................................................259
Engine Move......................................................................261
15. 2007: At D&S ...................................................................263
Restoration at D&S ........................................................263
Railfest Reception ..........................................................264
First Steamup ...................................................................269
The First Fifty Yards .....................................................269
Testing at D&S .................................................................276
Excursions .........................................................................279
Engine Crew Recollections ........................................279
Tender Trucks Again ....................................................297
Logo .....................................................................................300
Board Business ...............................................................300
From Crises to Critical Acclaim ...............................300
16. 2008 .....................................................................................303
Tender Trucks .................................................................303
Engine Odds and Ends .................................................303
Operations ........................................................................304
Engine Crew Recollections ........................................313
Shelters ..............................................................................325
National Register............................................................328
Merchandise ....................................................................328
Board Business ...............................................................329
17. 2009 ....................................................................................331
Refinement .......................................................................331
Operations ........................................................................331
A Well-Tuned Engine ...................................................339
Engine House & Track .................................................349
Board Business ...............................................................350
Deferred Restoration....................................................350
Culmination ......................................................................350
PERSPECTIVES
43. Boiler Metal .....................................................................175
44. FRA Requirements .......................................................176
45. Canvas or Tin Roof........................................................176
46. Operating Pressure ......................................................179
47. Tramming .........................................................................185
48. National Register ...........................................................194
49. Fire Door Cost .................................................................254
GRAPHS
12. Cost of Restoring D&RGW 315 ................................357
FIGURES
315 Back Wall Comparison to 318.................................191
Cab Internal Appliances Details .....................................218
Old 1-A Air Brake Configuration ....................................219
Modified 1-A Air Brake Configuration .........................219
Sketch for Reconstructing Smokebox
Interior……………………………………………………..….250
TABLES
28. Financial Summary, 2000-2003 .............................168
29. 315 Supplemental Restoration ...............................349
30. 315 Locomotive Crews ...............................................350
31. Volunteers – Physical & Technical Labor ............354
32. Large Donors of Cash....................................................355
33. Donors of Materials & Services ...............................356
PART III. TECHNOLOGY
19. Roots....................................................................................361
Guericke, Papin, and Savery ......................................361
Thomas Newcomen ......................................................361
James Watt and William Murdoch .........................362
Richard Trevithick.........................................................363
John Blenkinsop and Matthew Murray ................365
William Hedley and Timothy Hackworth............366
George and Robert Stephenson...............................366
American Steam & Railway Pioneers ...................369
British–American Transition ...................................371
Matthias Baldwin and BLW ......................................372
20. Refinement ......................................................................375
Boiler ..................................................................................375
Boiler Fittings .................................................................378
Driving Gear......................................................................380
Running Gear ...................................................................383
Other Engine Features ................................................387
Tender.................................................................................388
Adornment .......................................................................389
Consolidation....................................................................392
Form from Function .....................................................394
21. Revisions ..........................................................................395
Specification ....................................................................395
Evolution of 315 ............................................................406
Restored 315: Drawings ............................................410
Sister C-18s.......................................................................424
By the Numbers .............................................................424
PERSPECTIVES
51. Ancient Arts ....................................................................361
52. Ruts and Rails.................................................................364
53. Industrial Revolution ..................................................365
54. First Steam Vehicles ....................................................365
55. Builders and Manufacturers ....................................373
56. Wrought Iron and Steel...............................................375
57. Boiler Explosions ..........................................................376
58. Venturi Effect .................................................................379
59. Twentieth Century .......................................................389
60. Steam Cars .......................................................................393
61. Baldwin Locomotive Classification .......................395
ILLUSTRATIONS
MAPS
England, about 1830 ..........................................................363
FIGURES
315 Cutaway Views ............................................................411
315 Plan and Elevation Views........................................413
NOTE: See Glossary for list of detailed drawings.
TABLES
34. Rocket Class Locomotives..........................................369
35. Locomotive Technology Timetable .......................390
36. Register of Engines Ordered – F&CC 3 ................396
37. Specification for F&CC 1–6........................................397
38. Abbreviations in BLW Specifications ...................401
39. Baldwin Engine Drawing Data – F&CC 3.............402
40. Westinghouse Air Brake Schedules, 1882 .........403
41. Register of Engines Made – F&CC 3 ......................403
42. Evolution of Specifications for F&CC 1–12.........407
43. D&RGW C-18 Differences ..........................................423
44. Thermal Performance Parameters – 315 ...........424
45. Water Consumption – 315 ........................................425
46. Smokebox Parameters – 315 ...................................425
47. Tractive Effort and Mechanical
Performance – 315.....................................................426
48. Adhesion Weight – 315 .............................................426
49. Car Resistance Example ............................................427
50. Tonnage Rating Calculation ....................................428
51. Tonnage Ratings for Range of Grades
and Curves ....................................................................428
EPILOGUE ...............................................................................431
APPENDIX
A. Baldwin Documents
A.1. Engine Register for Class 10–26 E ................433
A.2. Register of Engines Ordered, 1895 ...............434
A.3. Register of Engines Made, 1895 .....................434
A.4. Specification for Engines, F&CC 1–6 ............436
A.5. Engine Drawings for Class 10-26 E ..............438
A.6. Painting: Card Specifications ...........................439
A.7. Erecting Drawing ..................................................439
A.8. Boiler Drawing .......................................................440
B. D&RGW Documents
B.1. Authorization for Expenditure, AFE 2309...441
B.2. AFE 3950, Cab Curtains and
Storm Windows .....................................................441
B.3. AFE 4391, Electric Headlights
on Tenders ...............................................................442
B.4. AFE 4617, Automatic Fire Doors ...................442
B.5. Drawing for Welt Strips......................................443
B.6. Drawing for Steam Dome Reinforcement
and Rivet Replacement .......................................444
B.7. Drawing for D&RGW 426 Steam Dome
Reinforcement ........................................................445
B.8. ICC Form 308, Engine 425 Description........446
B.9. Excerpts from Time Book of Men Employed
at Chama Shops …………………………………….....447
B.10. Folio Drawing of C-18 Locomotives ...........448
B.11. Drawing of Boiler Braces for Front
and Back Heads ....................................................449
B.12. Drawing of Firebox Wrapper Sheet............450
B.13. Equipment Description Sheet, 425–429
(315–319) ...............................................................451
B.14. ICC Form 588 for Bureau of Valuation......452
B.15. D&RGW Record of Property Changes .......453
B.16. Locomotive Valuation and
Number Changes .................................................453
B.17. Condition of Fireboxes and Boilers ...........454
B.18. Locomotive Mileage Data ..............................455
B.19. Dispatcher Sheet, September 20, 1940 ...456
B.20. Dispatcher Sheet, October 2, 1944 ............457
B.21. Dispatcher Sheets, August 30 to
October 17, 1945..................................................457
B.22. Folio Drawing of C-18 Locomotives,
Reissued 1949…………………………………........460
B.23. Days of Service Sheets for D&RGW 315 ..461
B.24. Call Book at Durango .......................................462
B.25. Memo for Donating the 315
to Durango .............................................................464
C. DRHS Documents
C.1. Drawings of Tender Frame ..............................465
C.2. Drawings of Cab Structure ...............................467
D. D&RG and D&RGW Divisions ....................................475
TABLE
52. Analysis of Service Days for D&RGW 315,
1941–50 ...........................................................................461
ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................477
GLOSSARY ..............................................................................479
List of Detailed Drawings .........................................483
Glossary Drawings, 315 Elevation & Plan .........485
REFERENCES ........................................................................489
INDEX .......................................................................................495
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.........................................................509
ADDENDUM: RAILFEST 2010 ........................................510