Prototype K-27 questions

[Matthew (OV)]

Thanks Charlie! I knew you'd know.

Now which one to choose......

Matthew (OV)

[Charlie Mutschler]

Matthew,
Thanks for the kind comments.  The real expert on matters relating to mudhens is Dennis O'Berry, author of the book _The Mudhens_, which I recommend to anyone who is a serious modeler of these locomotives.  I've used his book, the multiple volumes of _The R.G.S. Story_ and various documents at the Colorado Railroad Museum in my own study of them. 

A few more quick comments. 

1903 - Baldwin delivers 15 Vauclain compound 2-8-2s to the Denver & Rio Grande.  These are D&RG Class 125, placed in service on Marshall Pass.  As built, all have Stephenson valve gear, wooden pilots, extended smokeboxes, and slope-back tenders.  Apparently engine crews kept trying to run them as simples for extended periods, resulting in increased maintenance costs.  In any case . . .

1907 - D&RG simples first Class 125 loco, most converted to simple with slide valves between 1907 and 1912, but 456 may not have been simpled until 1916. 

1918 - Tenders on all Class 125 locos rebuilt to rectangular pattern for increased water capacity. 

1921 - D&RG re-organized as the Denver & Rio Grande Western.  Capital improvements on the narrow gauge include extensive rebuilding of most freight cars, some locomotives, and orders for two new groups of outside frame 2-8-2s:  The K-28's in 1923, and the K-36's in 1925.  Class 125 improvements include boiler tube pilots and cross compound air pumps. 

1924 - D&RGW re-classifies motive power.  Class 125 becomes class K-27.  First mudhen rebuilds with piston valves. 

1924 - 1925 Nos. 454, 456, 458, 461 rebuilt with piston valves.  According to some documents in the files (but no photos have surfaced yet) these were rebuilt with their old Stephenson valve gear.  The inside canted cylinder blocks were designed for this purpose, with the valves inboard from the centerline of the cylinders.  A success, but within months all four were rebuilt with Walschaerts valve gear. 

1925 - 1929.  The first four conversions were a success, so seven more were modified, but with cylinder  blocks designed for Walschaert valve gear.  These are the outside canted cylinder blocks, the prototypes for the Bachmann Fn3 model.  Nos. 452, 453, 459, 462, 463, and 464. 

Nos. 450, 451, 457, and 460 were never rebuilt with piston valves,retaining slide valves and Stephenson valve gear until they were scrapped in 1939.  Photos indicate that only 460 saw  much service after 1929. 

Sales:  1939 - 455 to RGS; 1941 - 458 and 459 to N de M; 1950 - 461 to RGS; 1955 - 463 to Gene Autrey; 1973 - 464 to Knotts Berry Farm. 

Scrapping: 1939 - 450, 451, 457, 460; 1950 - 456, 462; 1953 - 454, RGS 455 and 461; 1954 - 452, 453.  About 1960 - 458 (NdeM 2251); About 1969 - 459 (NdeM 2250). 

Anticipating - which one do I order first?  I rather like 455 in the pre-wreck sunrise herald, and of course D&RGW and 463 and 464 had long-time Silverton branch assignments, which would be nice. . . decisions, decisions! 

[Perry Ottoman]

Charlie, I could nt agree more about the Mudhen book.

My friend Rod Hayward has been tearing his hair out in the UK trying to lay his hads on a copy.

It's my understanding that is out of print ?

[Charlie Mutschler]

Perry,

I found three on-line sellers listing _The Mudhens:  A Photographic History_, by Dennis O'Berry as in stock and available for purchase.  I didn't keep looking, but the three I looked at included two railroad museum book stores and a firm that specializes in books on railroads.  Also, R Robb's ad in  the May/June 2007 Gazette lists it at $30.00, which is what the other three were offering it for.  So I would say if the publisher and three railroad book sellers are offering it, that you should be able to obtain a copy, though I don't know all the intricacies of international ordering - there may be taxes and higher shipping that I'm not used to seeing on my orders from a popular railroad museum bookstore here in the states. 

Happy anticipating. 

Charlie Mutschler
-30-

[Perry Ottoman]

Thanks for the trouble Charlie, I'll pass that on.