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- D&RGW "T-12" #168 circa the 1920's - 1930's -

~ Updated 10-30-04 ~

The D&RG’s "T-12" Class consisted of 12 locomotives. These were out-shopped by the Baldwin Locomotive Works between the years 1880 - 1880. The "oddball" wheel arrangement with its widely spaced #2 and #3 drivers was created in order to accommodate the locomotive’s firebox within the confines of the narrow frame. ( Many other "Ten Wheelers" of that era shared the same peculiarity. Notably in this instance some of those South Pacific Coast’s 4-6-0’s inherited by the S.P.’s narrow gauge operations. )

Almost at once, the "T-12’s" were put in charge of the D&RG’s narrow gauge passenger trains and although displacing only 11,590 pounds of tractive effort, the T-12’s were to remain the mainstay of the The Grande’s passenger fleet until much heavier rails made the way clear for the much heavier "K-28’s" to take their place. The T-12’s had 45" Drivers* which made them the "racehorses" of the narrow gauge operations.

*( By contrast, the 2-8-0’s had much shorter drivers, most coming in around 36" - 37" inches. Depending upon a formulae of bore vs. stroke a theoretical top speed of 360 revolutions per minute was the "rule of thumb" for most freight locos. But they were an exception. The theoretical top speed of a T-12 traveling at 360 rpm was was 47.1 mph, whereas the theoretical top speed of a C-16 was only 38.8 mph. )

An old D&RGW Engineer, Ben Greathouse, whom I had the chance to get acquainted with during our tenure in Chama, told of driving T-12’s down "The Gunbarrel", as the lonely trackage stretching north out of Alamosa and onwards over Poncha Pass and into Salida was called. He said he remembered them a "fine steamers" that had no trouble running at a brisk 50 mph on their journey. In fact, on a test run of the #169 after its last shopping in February 1934, the engine ran the 28 miles from Alamosa to Antonito in 30 minutes ! Almost 60 mph ! He and his firemen loved them.

But unfortunately, no engineman of any "worth" would have ever admitted that to corporate because the pay structure at the time was based upon axle loadings, which automatically put the T-12’s at the bottom of the pay scale. The brutal reality of economics. Probably another reason for their early demise.

#168 and #169 survive down to this day; the #168 being on display adjacent to the old Depot in Colorado Springs; the #169 being on display, along with Business Car # B-1 just as you are leaving town headed east out of Alamosa. So if you get the chance, pay ‘em a visit and re-live the past!

These models will be constructed from Firm Reservations ONLY, these requiring a deposit. Any over-runs will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Click the photo above for an early view of #169.

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