Rio Grande No. 486

D&SNG No. 486 is a K-36 class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type narrow gauge steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in 1925 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW). After retirement from the D&RGW in 1967, it was donated to the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City, CO for static display. In 1999, 486 was traded to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) in Durango, CO in exchange for class K-37 locomotive 499 and later restored to operating condition in August 2000.
As of today, 486 is now preserved and operated by the D&SNG as a permanent resident. It is one of four class K-36 locomotives in operation on the D&SNG, the others being Nos. 480, 481, and 482. In October 2019, 486 was taken out of service and placed on temporary display in the D&SNG roundhouse museum alongside class K-28 locomotive 478. 486 will eventually return to service again after it receives an upcoming overhaul and conversion to burn oil, following the conversion of class K-28 locomotive 476.
In early August 2022, its tender was recently converted to oil-firing to be temporarily used behind sister class K-36 locomotive 480 while 480's original tender undergoes some much-needed heavy repairs and maintenance. On October 18, 2023, the D&SNG announced the return to service of 478, with restoration work beginning in early 2024, and the conversion of both 478 and 481 to burn oil instead of coal. They also announced that 486 will remain on temporary display in the D&SNG roundhouse museum. Whether or not 486 will return to service again anytime soon is yet to be determined, but it will eventually be the last locomotive on the D&SNG to be converted to an oil burner. In the Railfest 2011. No. 486 going to Rockwood passed by 478 from in Railfest August that year. No. 486 is going to Railfest 2003 to 2006 after going to around DS Railfest 2004 to 2013.
==Trivia== 
*No. 486 has only worn a D&RGW 5-chime whistle during its operating career on the Durango & Silverton, which it still currently wears as of right now. But as of June 2024, its D&RGW 5-chime is currently being used on class K-28 locomotive No. 476.
*The engine can be seen in Herron Rail Video's Narrow Gauge Glory Volume 1.
==See also==
*Gallery
Category:Built in 1925
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Rio Grande locomotives
Category:Durango & Silverton locomotives
Category:Narrow gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge
Category:Narrow-gauge locomotives
Category:Narrow-gauge steam locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:United States
Category:2-8-2 steam locomotives
Category:2-8-2 locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Excursion locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives