Rio Grande No. 315

D&RGW No. 315 is a C-18 class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1895, originally for the Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad (F&CC) as their No. 3, named Elkton.
After the demise of the F&CC in 1915, the locomotive sat unused until the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) purchased it and four of its sisters in 1917 to help with war traffic. In D&RG service, it became No. 425, but was later renumbered to No. 315 when the D&RG became the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) in the reorganization of 1924.
It was leased to the City of Durango from 1950 until the railroad donated it to the Chamber of Commerce in 1968 and then was transferred to the city in December 2000. It was later restored to operating condition in August 2007 by the Durango Railroad Historical Society and now operates on special excursions and photo charters on both the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO.
As of 2016, it is loaned to the C&TS until at least 2025. In 2021, it operated special photo charters and participated in the railroad's Roundup of the Victorian Iron Horses event alongside D&RG 4-6-0 No. 168 and visiting locomotives Eureka, Glenbrook, and RGS 4-6-0 No. 20 where it would be renumbered and relettered to D&RG 425 for the event. After the end of the 2021 operating season on the C&TS in October, it was temporarily taken out of service for its Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) federally mandated 1,472-day boiler inspection and overhaul. It later returned to service on March 8, 2023. On May 27, 2023, it operated the first scheduled special excursion out of Antonito, CO for the 2023 operating season.
==Trivia== 
*It appeared in the movie Colorado Territory in 1948, but was finally taken out of service in 1949.
*It returned to the silver screen in Around the World in 80 Days in 1956, but was no longer in operating condition, so it was pushed by a diesel locomotive disguised as a baggage car. In iron horse roundup 2021. Rio grande 315 Dressed as Rio grande 425. In Durango Railfest, Rio grande 315 is Having Railfest 2010. Railfest 2011. And Railfest 2012 On the Durango And silverton Around in August 2013.
==Gallery==
File:334948340 814371533539903 26603021757252882 n.jpg|D&RGW 315 Returns to Service After its FRA Mandated 1,472-Day Overhaul, March 8, 2023
Drgw315-wessel.jpg
File:RioGrande315.jpg
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:2-8-0 locomotives
Category:2-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Built in 1868
Category:Rio Grande locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Cumbres & Toltec
Category:Preserved steam locomotives