Durango & Silverton

[@North_Cascade_Railfan]

Best whistle ever. Period.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

true

[@JackCarsonsRailroadVideos]

Amazing work

[@brenthermansen8074]

Rode the Silverton in October 2022. Wonderful experience. I was told they are going to keep running two of the coal burners to run the winter trips to Cascade Canyon. Oil burners the rest of the year.

[@andrewc1199]

481 is the only one left that burns coal.

[@tristanrailproductions]

Awesome Video Jack! 481 put on a Splendid Show! Good stuff.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Thanks Tristian.

[@JOEMAMA_534]

That locomotive was highballin’!

[@DENVERRIOGRANDEMAN21]

Awesome I miss Durango

[@reneastle8447]

We'll get it back.

[@rikashya]

#481 such a great engine I love that whistle im glad to see her under coal power one last time wish it didn't have to be.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I think the five chime whistle on number 481 sounds amazing a genuine I'm guessing DRGW style five chime whistle

[@dainallison4275]

Yes it is! I love these whistles. One of my favorites.

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

It’s the one 478 wore for decades

[@atsfevan0242]

It’s a shame coal steamers will vanish from D&S it’s good to know it lasted this long and many have gotten to see and ride behind them when it lasted.

[@reneastle8447]

Don't worry, coal will never go away. The world's natural resources will never run out. Besides, coal steamers will make a comeback thanks to the Retro Decade Revival Project.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@reneastle8447 how do you know this?? Is there a page to support this

[@reneastle8447]

@@nicholasmedovich8691 Not yet, but you cab help by spreading the word to everybody. You can also list down the things you wish to bring back throughout the project.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@reneastle8447 how can I get started though

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@reneastle8447 add a third injector to the stack by shooting mist to cut down sparks. Add water cars to ALL trains permanently. Sell some of the locomotives they don’t use. Sell 486 to CTS As a trade for 494. IMHO

[@CyclingSasquatch]

No way, I had no idea they were converting the whole fleet to oil! Glad I got to ride the line several times in the old days. I mean, I get why they're going that route, and glad for it in the greater scheme of things, but there's just something awe-inspiring about a locomotive spewing that acrid black header and raining cinders.

[@InevitableMe]

You mean a badly fired locomotive?

[@stampycatfan01lol]

Though it’s sad to see coal being phased out, at least the conversions are working well. Nice video!

[@shanewalters2565]

If that fire incident didn't happen, we likely would've continued seeing them run on coal. Thankfully, at least D&S is still going to be running steam regardless of the change.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@shanewalters2565 if I wanted to help, I would have 478 and 486 to Como or golden. Even better C&TS. Trade them for 489, 61, and 494. IMHO

[@stampycatfan01lol]

@@shanewalters2565 Very true. That said, I’m glad they’re taking measures to prevent such an incident from occurring again while also implementing a cleaner (and certainly cheaper) way to keep steam power a thing on the line.

[@normandedgerly8445]

What's a worse shame is that diesel!

[@CSLee-yu6ht]

Wow, I had no idea when my grandson and I took the round trip on August the 6th 2021 that it was near the end for coal…. The ride was a lifelong dream come true for sure…. 🎅🏻🏴‍☠️🏔

[@giddy1337]

Epic catch, Arkansas Locomotive Works. 👍🏻

[@TrainChamber]

Well done! Unfortunate that their converting but its good the oil is working out well.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Thanks Joe! Yeah it's sad but progress is progress.

[@DTGee64]

It's so sad they converted all of these great engines.

[@conradfok873]

Will 486 be converted into Oil and will 486's whistle be Replaced?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Nothing has been announced for 486 as of now.

[@diegotamez1743]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks will 481 be converted to burn oil

[@conradfok873]

@@diegotamez1743 Nope

[@andrewc1199]

@@diegotamez1743 It's being converted to oil as we speak.

[@conradfok873]

One last question until I stop Writing on here, What chime whistles do 473, 476, 480, 481, 482, 486, And 493 have?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

To my best knowledge, 473 has an original D&RGW 3 chime, 476 with a Lunkenheimer 3 Chime, 480 has a Nathan 6 Chime, 481 has 478's D&RGW 5 chime, 483 has a Powell 3 chime, 486 has an original D&RGW 5 Chime, and 493 has a Crosby 3 Chime

[@rileysanesh5203]

Why did 481,486 and 476 not run in the summer of last year

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I would guess due to the majority of the roster being oil fired, it would be easier to maintain the motive power that was in the majority.

[@rileysanesh5203]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks oh I see well I bet 481 or every steam train can pull the rio grande open air car too cause every steam train and the diesel train can pull the rio grande open air car

[@zacharylucisbecker2352]

That whistle almost sounds like the one on 478

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Cuz it is

[@zacharylucisbecker2352]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks I can tell

[@conradfok873]

Any predictions on when 473, 476, 480, 481, 482, 486, And 493 will run again?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

493, 482, 480, and 473 will definitely be running next year. Not sure about 481. 476 is being converted to oil soon.

[@skyhawk401]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks And 486?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@skyhawk401 Hard to tell. Looks like the current plan is to keep it on display in the roundhouse.

[@skyhawk401]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks Well as long as it's not getting converted into an oil burner (for now,) then that's fine.

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@skyhawk401 ever hear of a master mechanic?? Look at C&TS

[@SouthernFoamer]

Is there any way to know when they will run the coal engines being from east coast and had never ridden it before I would like to try to ride behind an aunthentic D&RGW coal burner before coal goes away

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Cumbres & Toltec still operates coal-powered trains.

[@TravelByTrainWithNaveen]

481 is still coal fired as of July 2022

[@judethedude5766]

Does anyone know what happened to the 486

[@andrewc1199]

It was taken out of service in 2019 and is on display in their roundhouse museum.

[@DerpyPossum]

0:38 that’s gotta be the best McDonald’s location i’ve ever seen.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

It's honestly the worst possible location. It's a complete eyesore and ruins the shot with the train.

[@narcotic-uy8qj]

The diesel almost matches the amount of smoke glad they chose honorary steam locomotives for there diesel power

[@Clawzord2277]

Interesting seeing 103 still got that white pass lettering on her.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

On one half too.

[@SuperAWaC]

as well as reducing fire risk (and liability thereof) oil is cheaper, easier to handle, produces more power (provided the conversions are done properly), is cleaner in every way, and causes less wear and tear on the locomotives. the only thing you're losing is the nostalgia of being covered with ashes when you're sitting in the open air cars.

[@indisputablefacts8507]

Totally agree. This conversion is good for the towns along the route, good for Colorado as a whole, and good for the railroad. All it takes to come to that conclusion is to hang out in Durango while that train is idling and think for a bit about the consequences of all that coal soot in the air. Nostalgia counts for something, but the lungs of the people who live in the area should count for something too.

[@SuperAWaC]

@@indisputablefacts8507 the pollution is negligible for everyone except the people operating the locomotives. it is not healthy to make a habit of being in the cab of a steam locomotive, however those who make a habit of it understand that and do it anyways.

[@generalhorse493]

Yeah given recent events I don’t blame them for wanting to reduce the risk of fire

[@trenesdecolombiaPabloHiguita]

Why does it causes less wear and tear of the locomotive?

[@Iliketrains170]

@@generalhorse493 what happened?

[@conradfok873]

What about 486?

[@chastermief3501]

i have been thinking this for years and im gonna say it. that McDonalds has got to be the best one in the world

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I personally think it's the worst.

[@chastermief3501]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks horrible service?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@chastermief3501 No just the location they chose is awful, ruins the depot shot in Durango.

[@chastermief3501]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks ah fair enough. I’m talking from the perspective of someone at the McDonald’s. Like imagine you are just passing through the town and you don’t know about this railroad. You are getting some food from the drive through and you hear a massive whistle and you look over and see an old steam engine pulling out a dozen passenger cars. Something like that idk

[@jimmypringosvr5154]

I’m so confused I thought some were going to stay coal burners

[@RailroadFanatic-hr6pf]

Well it’s sad to see coal power go but at least the trains will be more environmentally friendly

[@drgw489productions]

Sadly we announced last spring that this winter is the last time we run coal

[@thecoloradokid1758]

Are 481 and 476 being converted too?

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@thecoloradokid1758 Nothing announced for 481 yet but 476 is the next one for the winter.

[@thecoloradokid1758]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks Daaaang, and I thought they would've stopped after 482's conversion. Kinda sad honestly, but it is what it is

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

@@thecoloradokid1758 no thanks to Chloe bovaletta.

[@diegotamez1743]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks hey do you think the oil conversion is a mistake

[@brianfalzon6739]

Coal will not go away!

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

How do you know this

[@brianfalzon6739]

@@nicholasmedovich8691 Retro Decade Revival Project will still use coal as always

[@NERRP2017]

Some smaller standard gauge steamers still use coal as far as we know Engines like 1003, 765 and a few others still use coal While the majority out in the Midwest and west are oil now, Connecticut valley railroads engines still use coal and probably still will unless they change it to oil, but I doubt it as the people whom run it and live around there are used to coal steamers I think

[@TrainsAreReallyCool]

@Brian Falzon I know absolutely nothing about this "Retro Decade Revival Project" you speak of, but it sounds really stupid and probably won't go anywhere. These railroads are converting their steam engines to oil because it's safer and cheaper. Yes, it's sad to see a centuries-long tradition fade away, but it's what's necessary to be safe. Also, there are many steam locomotives powered by coal still operating on the east coast. Yes, some recently restored ones (USSC 148) are powered by something other than coal, but most of them; such as the Cass engines, 1309, the Connecticut Valley engines, and several others are still powered by coal and probably always will be. That is, until the US supply of coal runs out.

[@buntik1687]

Isn’t 315 a coal burner? 🚂

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

Yes

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Great video but it's too bad that they're giving up burning coal it's a very sad thing to know

[@micahmelter1591]

I'd rather see a running oil burning steam engine then no steam running at all. It had to be done so steam could survive.

[@TRAINGUY-ey3hj]

That's a good and a bad thing to give up coal. Good: for the environment Bad: ending a nostalgic tradition At least the c&ts will continue coal for yearss to come. But grand canyon railway is steps ahead with bio-diesel (recycled vegetable oil) as a fuel for steam locomotives!

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

It's also good to avoid more lawsuits. They have already sued for around 20 million dollars due to damages from the 416 fire, even though it was never proved if the railroad actually caused the fire.

[@TRAINGUY-ey3hj]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks exactly! I don't agree with the people blaming just the railroad. Maybe it all turned out to be a bunch of douche bag teenagers starting a fire in the forest to shame the poor railroad. But, more oil fired steam locomotives. Means that diesel will die on the Silverton quicker.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

They shouldn't even use oil

[@Nick-xm1ux]

Why not?

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

@@Nick-xm1ux Cause of pollution which gas causes

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@terencewilliammckenna6121 Coal is dirtier.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

@@dainallison4275 Ok, well, I am grateful, so maybe they should instead use something more cleaner than coal or oil

[@Nick-xm1ux]

@@terencewilliammckenna6121 They dont really have anything cleaner...

[@zaklex3165]

Coal will not be completely replaced with oil...they'll keep at least one of them as a coal burner, and if they do end up converting all of them, switch to the C&TS, they won't.

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

I'm still visiting both railroads nonetheless

[@diegotamez1743]

I was on a tour once and they said that they won’t convert the hole fleet

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

C&TS is only converting I think one more other than the one htat is already converted, and that one is only staying on the East End of Osier, then a coal engine takes the point

[@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks]

@@SouthernKansasRailfan Crews are actually having a lot of trouble with 489's new firing. Rumors have surfaced that it'll probably be converted back due to its rather poor performance. I highly doubt any other engine on the C&TS will be converted.

[@SouthernKansasRailfan]

@@ArkansasLocomotiveWorks I like to hear that in reality, I hate anything that isn't authentic, but for D&S, I think its necessary, because I'd still rather have un-authentic engines still running, than to just see then scrapped, or put on display, what have you.

[@asanewby4273]

A diesel pulling before the steamer, no more coal, more diesels coming... In ten years, there might not even be steam.

[@NERRP2017]

Probably not as d&s still uses steam they just got the diesels built and or saved to preserve them for younger generations, tourist railroads won’t retire the age of steam as well as Hertiage funds and steam programs as instead, diesels will probs be the gone as modern battery and electric and diesel/electric/battery 3rd rail/solar powered hybrids will probably maybe take form whom knows