Train Facts: Standard Origins of Narrow Gauge Legends

The Rio Grande K37 class is the last in a series of American narrow gauge legends. However, these venerable steam locomotives aren't entirely narrow gauge engines, but rather built by parts from lesser known standard gauge ones.

Credit for all photos used go to their original photographers.
All music used in this video is from the YouTube Audio Library.

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Denver Public Library Special Collections, OP-9504, OP-9571, OP-9599, OP-9605

Music Used: Ipanema Daydream - Bird Creek

[Pensyfan]

*IMPORTANT:* I'm aware that most claim that the K37s weren't technically rebuilt from the C41s as they only utilized their boilers and tender wheels. For more info about these engines and their construction, please see the comment here posted by Hyce.

[Hyce]

Leave it to a Pennsy guy to get the facts wrong about the D&RGW :P (only tossing shade, love the Pennsy and appreciate the channel!)

I was part of the team that put the 491 back in service in 2014. The class was not "converted" as the wikipedia consistently gets edited back to say; they re-utilized a boiler from the C-41's on a new engine. The frame, engine, running gear, etc. was all built brand new at Stearns Rogers of Englewood, Colorado. Conversion implies they just slid the wheels in tighter on the axles with the same frame and cylinders; which isn't the case.

Additionally, 5 were built in 1928, 5 were built in 1930. They also did not do it because it was cheaper. They asked Baldwin for a second set of 10 K-36's in 1927, and Baldwin said, "not until you finish paying us for the first 10" which the D&RGW had ordered on credit. The D&RGW promptly went the blackjack and hookers route, and ended up spending a fair bit *more* to build the K-37's instead; the as built cost was over 10% more if memory serves.

Again, thanks for the video and I appreciate you working to spread knowledge but figured I'd chime in on the brass tacks. :)

[richardjayroe]

The k37 we're NEVER standard guage

[aa]

This video is incorrect.
The K-37 class was built due to a dispute with Baldwin over buying additional K-36's. (The D&RGW hadn't finished paying for the original 10 at the time)
Rather than pay Baldwin the remaining amount the D&RGW decided to build more K-36's for themselves.
The as the last K-36's made their way to the D&RGW they were carefully analyzed by the railroad's Barnum shops to be reverse-engineered.
Taking pre-existing Boilers from the C-41 class they cast brand new frames and cylinders for the locomotives creating a what was essentially a brand new locomotive, with the only components taken from standard gauge being the Boiler and the Tender wheels.
The K-37 was a narrow gauge engine that happened to use *some* standard gauge components, but because of that many people mistakenly call them converted from standard gauge.
They were also more expensive to produce than the K-36's for no real benefit due to needing to build all the mechanical components from scratch.

So no the K-37's were not converted from standard gauge and I'm sick of people still claiming they are conversions.

[harrisonofcolorado]

Most see 583 as the sole survivor of standard gauge steam on the D&RGW, but technically, there are a few more survivors.

I do wish that more from the standard gauge was preserved though.

[paulmishler]

So i guess this technically means theres more than one surviving D&RG standard gauge steamer

[thomasdeturk]

I just Posted Videos about wanting to improve movements to expand narrow Gauge Railroad Infrastructures All Across The United States and Canada.
🇨🇦🇺🇸

[mrsaturngamingandstories]

I already know that they were originally standard gauge 2-8-0