Engine No. 168's long , eventful, historic life — more to follow

 

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com

From transporting President  "Big Bill" Taft at the head of a special train taking him to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel, which at the time, was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world, to a Colorado Springs symbol of progress, commerce and civilization, Engine No. 168 of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad, has had a long and eventful, historic life — and it seems there is more to follow.

"On March 10, 2015, the City Council of Colorado Springs approved a lease agreement between the city and the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) for the restoration of Steam Locomotive #168, which is on display in Antlers Park. C&TSRR proposes to remove the locomotive from its current static display, restore the engine to working condition, and operate it as part of their “museum on wheels.” When the restoration is complete the locomotive will become an integral part of a truly historical railroad composed of vintage steam locomotives and restored historic passenger cars dating back to the 1880s," says the city's site.

"It will operate on the railroad’s 64-mile stretch of track, which is the last surviving portion of the narrow gauge rail line operated by Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The lease agreement requires that #168 retain its National Register designation and continue to serve as a memorial to Gen. William Jackson Palmer, the visionary that founded both Colorado Springs and the Denver & Rio Grande. As a result of the action taken on March 10, the C&TSRR will now begin a review and approval process by the National Register of Historic Places.  That decision is expected by July. The locomotive will remain in place until that time. Once removed from display, the site in Antlers Park will be graded and seeded with turf grass," according to the city.

"The steam locomotive in Antlers Park is known affectionately as “Old 168.” The engine was manufactured in Philadelphia in 1883 by Baldwin Locomotive Works, and that year the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (DRGW) purchased it, pulling the first DRGW passenger cars from Colorado Springs to Ogden, Utah. With its unusual, narrow gauge design, the locomotive was able to move through narrow canyons and rocky precipices. In service for 50 years, it was retired in 1933 due to reduced demand caused by the Great Depression and the availability of newer, more powerful steam locomotives.  

In 1938, the DRGW donated #168 to the City of Colorado Springs as a monument to the contributions of General William Jackson Palmer. In addition to founding Colorado Springs and creating a rich vision for an extensive community park system, Palmer also founded the Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG) and the DRGW Railroads, which were the economic lifeblood for southern Colorado and beyond.

The engine was donated and displayed in Antlers Park, adjacent to the former D&RG depot building.  It was one of the first monuments featuring a steam locomotive, and according to a 1938 Gazette article, it symbolized “progress, commerce and civilization.” With the exception of a brief period during the construction of the current Antlers Hotel in the 1960s, Old 168 has been a fixture in Antlers Park since 1938,"  says city information.        

 '168' is one of twelve similar locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1883. It was built as a passenger locomotive, with 46 in drivers, the largest drivers used on any three foot gauge D&RGW locomotive. The large drivers made it suitable for relatively fast passenger service.

Various photographs show '168' during its working life. One shows it in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in 1904. Another shows it in Montrose, Colorado, west of Gunnison, at the head of a special train taking President William Howard Taft to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel which, at the time, was the longest irrigation tunnel in the world. There are also photographs, taken by Otto Perry, showing it in Alamosa in 1923 and Salida in 1929. It was retired in 1938 after a service life of 55 years. 

 

The railroad gave it to the City of Colorado Springs on August 1, 1938. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Rio Grande Engine No. 168 in 1979. Although it sat in Antlers Park, unprotected from the elements, behind a low fence, for so many years, it appeared to be in immaculate cosmetic condition when removed for restoration to operating condition in early 2016.

The city has entered into an agreement with the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) to have the engine restored to working order. The locomotive is now located in Antonito, Colorado.

Restoration was completed in October 2019, says the restoration project which was managed by Cumbres and Toltec Special Projects department and led by Assistant General Manager Efstathios Papas. The project cost $508,000 and took 27 months to complete. The railroad intends to use this engine frequently and put it into normal service as much as possible, says  recent communication from the railroad.