Denver and Rio Grande Western No. 168 is a class "T-12" “Ten Wheeler” type

narrow-gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...

steam railway locomotive. It is one of twelve similar locomotives built for the

Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...

(D&RG) by the

Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railroad locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, in the early 20th century. The company was for decades t ...

in 1883. It was built as a passenger locomotive, with drivers, the largest drivers used on any three foot gauge D&RGW locomotive. The large drivers made it suitable for relatively fast passenger service. Various photographs show 168 during its working life. One shows it in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in 1904. Another shows it in

Montrose, Colorado Montrose is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 20,291 at the 2020 census, within a total area of 18.5 square miles. The main ...

, west of Gunnison, at the head of a special train taking President

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

to the opening of the

Gunnison Tunnel The Gunnison Tunnel is an irrigation tunnel constructed between 1905 and 1909 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in Montrose County, Colorado. The tunnel diverts water from the Gunnison River to the arid Uncompahgre Valley around Montrose, Colorado ...

which, at the time, was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world. There are also photographs, taken by Otto Perry, showing it in

Alamosa Alamosa is a home rule municipality and the county seat of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 9,806 at the 2020 United States Census. The city is the commercial center of the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorad ...

in 1923 and Salida in 1929. It was retired in 1938 after a service life of 55 years. The railroad gave it to the

City of Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...

on August 1, 1938. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

as Rio Grande Engine No. 168 in 1979. Although it sat in Antlers Park, unprotected from the elements, behind a low fence, for so many years, it appeared to be in immaculate cosmetic condition when removed for restoration to operating condition in early 2016. The city has entered into an agreement with the

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, often abbreviated as the C&TSRR, is a narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on of track between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, in the United States. The railroad is named for two geogra ...

(C&TSRR) to have the engine restored to working order. The locomotive is now located in

Antonito, Colorado Antonito is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory town, Statutory Town located in Conejos County, Colorado, Conejos County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 647 at the 2020 United States Census. History Antonito began ...

. Restoration was completed in October 2019. The restoration project was headed up by Cumbres and Toltec Special Projects department and led by Assistant General Manager Efstathios Papas. The project cost $508,000 and took 27 months to complete. The railroad intends to use this engine frequently and put it into normal service as much as possible.Papas, Efstathios. Personal Interview. March 11, 2020

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:DandRGW 168 Railway vehicles on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado Buildings and structures in Colorado Springs, Colorado Railway locomotives introduced in 1883 Railway locomotives on the National Register of Historic Places 4-6-0 locomotives Baldwin locomotives Individual locomotives of the United States 0168 Narrow gauge steam locomotives of the United States Tourist attractions in Colorado Springs, Colorado 3 ft gauge locomotives Preserved steam locomotives of Colorado

See also

References