It was July 8th, 2020, when I went down to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. Rio Grande Southern #20 was finally doing some test runs after years of being totally rebuilt—from running on the Rio Grande Southern, to a static display, to running again at the CRRM.
As soon as I saw RGS #20 sitting in her stall at the roundhouse with that Rio Grande Southern lettering on the tender I could feel the history of this narrow-gauge steam locomotive. Instead of being here I could close my eyes and go back in time to the roundhouse in Ridgeway, Colorado, or pulling a freight on the
Rio Grande Southern.
August 1st and 2nd would be the first run of RGS #20 for the public. An afternoon and evening of seeing RGS #20 pulling a train for the VIP railfans that paid to see and photograph this fine locomotive.
The museum recreated an iconic photograph by William Moedinger, Jr. that was on the cover of the February 1942 Train Magazine.
It was fun photographing RGS #20 on this weekend, but wait, there is more.
Fast forward to October 24th for another steam up at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. The leaves were still full of color on the trees and the weather was perfect for photographing Rio Grande Southern #20.
The day started out with a chill in the air when I went down to see #20 at the roundhouse. But the day ended up being nice for taking pictures with a lot of color. A Colorado autumn day.
The first big snow of the year arrived in Denver that night and I didn’t get to the museum the next day. Boy did I regret that. Totally missed out on some great snow pictures of Rio Grande Southern #20. But let us fast forward to May 15, 2021.
The day started out cloudy when I went down to the roundhouse. Both Denver & Rio Grande Western #346 and Rio Grande Southern #20 were both under steam. And there was also a special appearance of Denver And Rio Grande Western K-37 #491. She was under steam but did not run that day with #20 and #346. Here a little kid is enjoying the workings of a narrow-gauge steam locomotive.
Here is DRGW #346 heading for its train. It will be on the point while RGS #20 will be the second engine. It was a sight watching these two engines working together.
And music to my ears.
It was a fun day watching the narrow-gauge steam locomotives. #346 and #20 put on a double header show at the CRRM. But wait for another adventure for Rio Grande Southern #20.
As they say the best was saved for last. A three-day photo charter with Pete Lerro was planned on the Cumbres & Toltec and the third day was planned with RGS #20.
Seeing her run on the Cumbres & Toltec felt like this is what it was like on the Rio Grande Southern. She felt like it was home.
Rio Grande Southern #20 looked and sounded like the king of the Rails again.
I hope you enjoyed the travels of Rio Grande Southern #20 in modern times through my camera lens. Did you feel like you were on the Rio Grande Southern in a time machine?
Samuel E. Howard – Photographs and text Copyright 2022
Fantastic picturews
Thanks Ted
Thank You Ted
Thank You – that was a great presentation of RGS # 20 !
Thanks
Wonderful pictures! You have a great eye.
Thank you John
Thank You