Large Scale Central

A little D&RGW history needed

Prototypes
#1

I’m trying to put together a back story for a D&RGW 3000 series box car that I purchased as “data only” and am lettering and numbering as a C.V.S.Ry. car.

I was hoping to find an auction list from the Sundown Southern that was sold off in the early 2000’s. If they had a 30000 series box car, that would be the perfect “source” of the D&RGW car on the C.V.S.Ry… Of course , I could always make up a number and say that it was there, but it’s kind of fun to have traceable roots for some of my rolling stock.

Spent lots of time with Google tonight. While I can find quite a few preserved cars at various sites, I was unsuccessful in finding a derelict car that might have been available for purchase and won’t be found existing in a museum some place else. I also could not find a complete roster on-line.

Any suggestions?

#2

Here in Northern NM and jest to the North around Durango the country side is littered with 3000 series boxcars, in various state of decay. I can send photos of some. Just how decayed did you want? This one is a Goner… but surprisingly sound, about 2 miles from my house as the crow flies.

(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/dave2-8-0/DRG3XXX.jpg)

#3

Thanks Dave -

I figured as much :slight_smile: I’m looking for the number of one that could be restored operation on a tourist railroad and the location that it would have come from. Again, this is strictly for back story - I don’t really want to buy an old box car !

After I thought about it a while, what I really need to do is research the numbers of the ones that are spread out at the various museums and just pick one that is NOT on that list and say it was salvaged from use as a shed somewhere in Colorado or New Mexico.

BTW, my car was one of the ones rebuilt in Alamosa in 1924 so I think that limits the number range.

#4

Jon,
It’s early AM out here, but after some coffee and a few other chores I have to do,
I’ll thumb thru my reference book on the D&RGW rolling stock and see what I can come up with.

#5

Thanks John.

I’m thinking about doing a roster shot and lineage for each of my cars for a future website update. The more I think about it the more work it is.

#6

Jon,
My book doesn’t give too much info on the surviving 3000 series boxcars, except the ones that were left stranded for the D&S and the C&T.
3421 was purchased by Russ Simpson and moved to California. I think this is the same Russ Simpson that used to provide kits and parts.
He could have sold it to the CVS (in theory) :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#7

A Number of the cars that are currently at C&T were left behinds in Farmington when they pulled the rails in the 60’s. One of the local Oil Companies had 10-12 in there back lot for storage, and then one day they were gone… flatbeded to Chama… I think they were all salvageable, towards the end of operations here, the trucks were stolen from a number of Boxes to keep the pipe trains running To get the “unit” train out of town, I have ben told that a Box car was put to salvage because a door had a bad roller hinge…

#8

I think I’ve settled on one that is currently in Chama, NM. My story will be that the C.V.S.Ry. purchased #3016 from the C&TS and brought it to Connecticut for restoration. I won’t let the fact that 3016 will still be in Chama bother me :slight_smile:

(http://www.drgw.net/photos/DRGW3016NG/drgw_3016_chama_nm_29_sep_2007_000.sized.jpg)

Lettering will be finished tonight. If there is a break in the weather I’ll get a roster shot tomorrow.

#9

I’m dragging up this old thread because I’m back to work on my Roster. Inspired by the new Photo Albums here at LSC, I’d like to add a back story and prototype photos for a few more of my cars.

Today’s research is to find out what became of D&RGW gondola #1467. I can find photos & locations of similar cars, but not that exact one. These two are close numbers and very similar…

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jrad/_forumfiles/drgw1357.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jrad/_forumfiles/drgw_1400_800.JPG)

I’m also searching out info on South Pacific Coast (SPng) boxcar #38. I can find wooden SP boxcars,but not #38…

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jrad/_forumfiles/BOXCAR17.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jrad/_forumfiles/BOXCAR132.JPG)

Any info you could add would be appreciated.

#10

Jon,

I may not have had this link back months ago, but this might help with your back story on the box car. There is a pretty good roster of equipment here, and I just remembered that the Colorado Railroad Museum acquired the John Maxwell collection. And if memory serves me right, that roster was the most complete known, along with disposition of the cars.

http://www.drgw.net/info/Roster

Bob C.

#11

Jon I looked up D&RW #1467 in “A Century + Ten Of D&RGW Narrow Gage Freight Cars, 1871 to 1981” Revised 2nd Edition, By Robert Sloan. This Book is basically the bible for NG D&RG.

Gon #1467 started out as a 1902 32’ Drop bottom 25 ton Gondola, Class 14

“There were 9 equally spaced stakes, the drop doors located in the floor, were between the center 5 stakes. The truss rods were located far outside under the outside beams.”

In 1923, all the remaining 454 class 14 cars were rebuilt to Class 13 standards. No special notes are written about #1467. It was rebuilt with 4’2" sideboards #1468 was know to exist in 1969. Current status UNKOWN.

It was NOT transferred to C&TS, #1456 was transferred to the C&TS in 1970. #1423 is at the Colorado Railroad Museum, and #1400 went to the D&S. #1400 is currently undergoing total restoration by the Durango Railroad Historical Soc. See the post in this forum under truss rod help.

(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/dave2-8-0/gondola_zps2ff98d15.jpg)

Hopes this helps. Why that particular #?

#12

@Dave - Thanks. 1467 is the number on my AMS high side gondola.

Since nothing is actually known about what happened to that number I’m free to invent my own history. I might use the 1400 “before” picture above when it was in storage in Tacoma, CO. since the number isn’t really readable.

@Bob - Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out.

#13

Thanks again guys. #1467 has been added to the Roster Album on our Facebook page borrowing and twisting the lineage from 1400.

For those of you who don’t do Facebook, the album has been duplicated here on LSC in the Album section: C.V.S.Ry. Equipment Roster

#14

Jon - Thank you for the duplicated Album. My employer frowns on Facebook, or any of the social media sites for that matter, considering them a security risk, so I don’t ‘socialize’. I miss a bunch of stuff in my family as well, but se lavie .