Standard Gauge Pioneer: D&RGW Steam Locomotive No. 683 - Big Train Tours - Colorado Railroad Museum!

Welcome to another Big Train Tour at the Colorado Railroad Museum! This month, we’ll be taking a look at Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 683. This 1890 vintage steam locomotive is today the only standard gauge steam locomotive that remains from the once-mighty Denver & Rio Grande Western system. Even more significantly, this locomotive entered service just as the Rio Grande was completing its very first standard gauge, east-west main route between Denver and Salt Lake City.
Many rail enthusiasts today lament the fact that just one standard gauge Rio Grande steam locomotive survives, and indeed that’s unfortunate. However, given only one was saved, in many ways No. 683 just might be the best and most significant example, given its history. Come join me now, as we take a look back at the standard gauging of the Denver & Rio Grande, and how the railroad’s fortunes were forever changed in the process.
Join Colorado Railroad Museum Executive Director Paul Hammond as he explores the history behind the Museum's unique railroad collection!
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In 2022, the Museum is offering Train Rides every Saturday mid-January through Labor Day, and also during the month of October. Follow the Museum on Facebook, KZbin, Instagram and Twitter to catch all of our new & unique content!
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[@PereMarquette1223]

It’s honestly amazing how the Rio Grande neglected to save it’s standard gauge steam. One of 683’s sisters was scrapped in the 1980’s.

[@thatonecaledonian812]

Alfred E. Pearl am also is the reason only 2 NYC steam engines exist

[@PereMarquette1223]

@@thatonecaledonian812 umm what? There are at least 10 New York Central steamers out there, and half of them were saved while Pearlman was in charge.

[@thatonecaledonian812]

@@PereMarquette1223 my mistake, I meant modern steam locomotives

[@PereMarquette1223]

@@thatonecaledonian812 your still wrong though. Pearlman only donated the 2933 to save the NYC from a PR disaster. The 3001 was saved by the T&P buying it for use as a display.

[@thatonecaledonian812]

@@PereMarquette1223 Alright then

[@billgrierson840]

I can't say enough about these presentations, but I will say 'fantastic.' Thanks once again for all of the effort that goes into these productions.

[@akaBoG]

Thank you for tuning in Bill!

[@chrismoffat9820]

I love the Colorado railroad museum and I love the videos and presentations. Colorado's railroads are in my blood. My great uncle David halliday Moffat of the Moffat tunnel also assured that my older brother Charles Howard Moffat IV and myself Christopher Scott Moffat became lifelong rail fans and mining fans as well as Colorado history buffs. Thank you crrm for your awesome videos and even greater museum!

[@ken.mp372]

Many thanks, Mr. Hammond, for a fine presentation on the D&RG 2-8-0 583/683..... all of the old Photos & maps create a very good 'Thumbnail History" of the Rio Grande!

[@rickdee67]

Excellent video! Totally binging your channel!

[@sjwhitney]

I noticed when the image of the strange home-built internal combustion engine for the San Louis Southern was shown, it had the three coupler pockets on the end just as 683's tender had. The images of 683 in the barn with the other SLS loco showed neither of them with this feature. I'm strongly suggesting that 683's tender was the one used for that strange contraption.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I lived on Lincoln street in 1976 D.R.G.W.was still pushing Box cars to Granite furniture built on the old Sugare Beat plant property.. My long past away neighbor Denny born about 1917 . Hitched a ride to Park City Via Parley's Canyon D.R.G.W. In a empty Coal car . He was 12 years old. To stay with his Sister and trap Muscrats during Christmas Vacation. A good amount of the old grade still exist along I 80 between Mountain Dale dam and Parley's Summit. The track pulled in the 1950's for I 80. Look for it .It's easy walking and peicful

[@akaBoG]

Thanks for sharing this personal history - we love it!

[@rgsrrofnc]

These are AWESOME! Thank you.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Great show but okay Soldier Summit being a great route and it with Utah Railway and others being in use of a more efficient grade and picking if Coal freight and $ for the system. If you are going to talk about Salt Lake City. Please do a show about Echo Jucntion Though Coralville Utah Park City . That shtrech is now a Rail trail . The track pulled in the 1980's the last mine shut down Burlington Lumbar in business for decades had to go to truck freight. Robert Redford bought the buildings to preserve them and built period structure for Sundane film festival on the Freigh yard. If he wouldn't have stepped in it would be Conodos and time share he did the best he could under the servomstanses The line went over Parley's Canyon to the Roper yard in South Salt Lake City

[@akaBoG]

info passed on to the production team.

[@MatthewLappTrainGuy683]

My favorite steam locomotive in the collection, that is the same steam locomotive seen on my channels logo, I have it on there because it's dedicated to my grandfather since he has seen it before and he passed away in 2005. Not only is the steam locomotive on the title pic/logo dedicated to my grandfather, the channel is also dedicated entirely in loving memory of him since he was also a huge train buff. Remember to, Subscribe to the Train Guy.

[@charlalong8741]

yep (its me jaymehkook)

[@akaBoG]

I subbed!

[@MatthewLappTrainGuy683]

@@akaBoG Thanks

[@Whoasked-bc5ui]

My favorite loco in the CRM’s collection is CB&Q 5629

[@Spoofsc]

great video

[@robertlapin813]

My grandfather W.S. Allen was stationmaster at Larkspur, CO. In the 1990's I was at the museum in Golden with my mom and she was searching down an engine that she said scared her brother to death as he was employed with the task of delivering the orders to the engineer holding that stick contraption while standing at the edge of the platform as that monstrous engine barrelled by. We thought we had found that engine on display at the museum but watching your videos it may have been one the large narrow guage engines she picked out. She said the engine she was talking about was the largest steam engine they ran on that southbound line out of Denver. I would guess maybe the 4-6-2 configuration standard guage? You are stating you don't have that? Do you know what the largest engine they ran down that line around 1935 to 1940 timeline?

[@gyanprakashachari9584]

I missed them by a century

[@willieknows2708]

Thanks🙏😀💦🤲🌎

[@theextremeanimator4721]

20:42 - 20:46 - 20:38

[@FuelFire]

I know that Montezuma did not survive and was scrapped just a few years after she helped starting the D&RG, but is there anything written down about her?

[@brianfalzon6739]

Where could it run again since it’s the only D&RGW standard gauge steam survivor?

[@akaBoG]

good question....

[@brianfalzon6739]

​@@akaBoG and now the question is where 683 could exactly run on in the future because it couldn't fit on narrow gauge tracks since it's the only surviving D&RGW standard gauge steam engine.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

25:02 ''I thought you were going to say 1958.'' Or even 1952.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

24:51 / 24:50

[@theextremeanimator4721]

24:46

[@theextremeanimator4721]

31:09 - 31:18 I mean, 31:17.

[@theextremeanimator4721]

31: 42 = 31:43 its all jist...black... Was this all of a streanm?

[@nunyabuis3744]

Will it ever be restored to operating condition?

[@brianfalzon6739]

And where could it run since it’s the only D&RGW standard gauge steam survivor?

[@crrm]

We never say never but there are currently no plans to restore the loco to operating condition.

[@connorpack3735]

@@brianfalzon6739 Utah has a former DRGW standard gauge line that is in service as a tourist line. Heber Valley Railroad.

[@brootheboomer]

Dont just chain it off hammond lol (Extreme niche ((brother and me)) meme)