Rio Grande No. 490

D&RGW No. 490 was a K-37 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1902 for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG), later known as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW), originally as a standard gauge C-41 class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type locomotive. It was later rebuilt into a narrow gauge 2-8-2 type locomotive by the D&RGW's Burnham Shops in 1928 and reclassified as a K-37. It served in both freight and occasional passenger service on the D&RGW's narrow gauge system until it was officially retired from service in 1962. Unfortunately, it was later scrapped in 1964, becoming one of only two of the ten members of the K-37 class to be scrapped, the other one being No. 496.
The other eight members of the K-37 class have all been preserved. No. 491 survives at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO, Nos. 492, 494, 495, and 497 all survive at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO, Nos. 493 and 498 both survive at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO, and No. 499 survives at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City, CO. As of November 2022, Nos. 491 and 493 are both operational and Nos. 492 and 497 are both being evaluated for restoration back to operating condition, but only one of the two will be restored. After careful evaluation, 492 was chosen for the restoration instead of 497.
==Trivia==
* No. 490's cab was found at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG). It was recovered in Hermosa, CO on November 13, 2020 during a special mixed train service operated by sister K-37 class locomotive No. 493.
*Following No. 490's retirement from the D&RGW, its smokebox front was later given to sister K-37 class locomotive No. 492.
*In May 2023, it was announced that No. 490's whistle would be donated to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) for No. 492's restoration to operating condition.
==Gallery==
File:Drg490.jpg
File:Denver and Rio Grande excursion 1952.jpg
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Rio Grande locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Built in 1902
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Rebuilds
Category:American locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:United States
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:2-8-2 locomotives
Category:2-8-2 steam locomotives
Category:Mikados
Category:2-8-2 locomotives
Category:Scrapped steam locomotives
Category:Scrapped in 1963
Category:Scrapped excursion locomotives