Rio Grande No. 463

C&TS No. 463 is a K-27 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type coal-fired narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1903 for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG), later known as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). It was retired in the early 1950s, and in May 1955, it was sold to singer Gene Autry and moved to his private ranch in California for static display.
In 1971, 463 was sold to the city of Antonito, CO for an equivalent of only $1. In 1994, 463 was restored to operating condition and operated tourist excursion trains over the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) until it was taken out of service indefinitely in October 2002 due to a broken side rod.
In May 2013, 463 was later restored back to operating condition and made its inaugural run on the C&TS on May 20, 2013. As of today, 463 is still fully operational on the C&TS between Chama, NM and Antonito, CO, part of the old D&RGW narrow gauge system. On October 19th and 20, 2023, 463 operated on a 2-day photo charter to celebrate the locomotive's 120th birthday. As part of this photo charter, it had the flying D&RGW lettering painted on its tender.
==Pics==
*PicSearch
*VidSearch
==Trivia==
*No. 463's sister (another one of the last surviving D&RG Class K-27 locomotives in the world), No. 464, is at the Huckleberry Railroad in Flint, MI.
* No. 463's bell used to be hand-rung, but it was later converted to being air-rung in 2018.
*In 1938, No. 463 was involved in a serious accident where it was crossing the east wye bridge near Cimarron, CO when the bridge collapsed. No. 463 jack-knifed when the bridge collapsed, pointing the nose of the locomotive in the air. After No. 463 was removed from the river, it was taken to Gunnison, CO for repairs.
== See also==
Gallery
Category:Built in 1903
Category:Rio Grande locomotives
Category:2-8-2 locomotives
Category:2-8-2 steam locomotives
Category:Class K-27
Category:American locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Article stubs
Category:Locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:Cumbres & Toltec locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Excursion locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives