[bpratt]

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File Name: RGS C-19 Locomotive 41
File Submitter: bpratt
File Submitted: 02 Aug 2011
File Category: NG Steam Locos

io Grande Southern C-19 No. 41 was built by Baldwin in September 1881as their construction number 5731, as Denver & Rio Grande number 409, and was one of a group of 12 identical Class 70 locomotives, 400 through 411. At the time, the class 70 locomotives were the heaviest power on the D&RG, and remained so until the arrival of the K-27 locomotives in 1903.

After the arrival of the K-27s, 409 was assigned local train and helper service throughout the system. Also in 1903, 409 was given knuckle couplers and Westinghouse automatic air brakes as the entire system was upgraded to these modern appliances at that time.

In 1914, by government order, her wrought iron boiler was replaced with one of carbon steel. As part of that rebuild her smokebox was enlarged, she received a straight stack, and was equipped with an electric arc headlight, which was later converted to use incandescent bulbs.

In 1916 the Rio Grande Southern railroad, which had been owned by the Rio Grande since the 1893 receivership, was in dire need of power. They had upgraded a few of their 60-Class (C-16) 2-8-0’s but were down to just 7 engines which met government requirements. To cover their needs the Rio Grande ‘sold’ three F&CC 4-6-0’s (20, 22 and 25 - all available here at ET) to the RGS to replace their worn out smaller ten-wheelers and larger freight engines. These three 70 Class 2-8-0’s were re-numbered 40, 41 and 42 respectively.

Having been thoroughly rebuilt by the Rio Grande in 1914 – essentially becoming a new locomotive – the 41 served her new owner faithfully until 1950 when she was pulled from service for boiler repairs. After 1940 the 41 received several updates in compressors (single 11” pump from scrapped 40), headlight (from scrapped 25), dynamos and such, but for the first 24 years of RGS service she was kept essentially as the Rio Grande had rebuilt her in 1914.

In 1951, the 41 was purchased by Knott’s Berry Farm and Ghost Town, one of the nation’s first themed amusement parks, for use on their ¾ mile “Ghost Town & Calico” railroad. This line looped around their parking lot and carried passengers back to the 1880’s, complete with train robbers, in retired San Juan cars from the Rio Grande. The movie “Denver & Rio Grande” was released at the same time as the inauguration of the railroad and the locomotive was painted in “Bumblebee” colors with a fake diamond stack and box headlight. Over the years the engine suffered several horrible paint schemes but since the early ‘90s, thanks to crews who appreciated the engine’s history, more and more black and silver paint showed up on the engine until the final splashes of red disappeared and the 41 now runs in beautiful black and silver with the RGS herald on the side of her tank. Along with her sister engine D&RGW 340 (nee D&RG 400) she is one of only two C class engines to be in continuous railroad service since 1881 – 35 years with the D&RG, 35 years with the RGS and 60 years on the GT&C! - 130 years! Baldwin should be proud. Knott’s Berry Farm’s crews keep these grand ladies in “like-new” condition and they should survive for many, many more years. Note that this model is being uploaded during 41's 130th birthday month.
This model is configured as 41 appeared in 1937, with the big ‘41’ on the tender sides, the converted arc light and dual 9½” air compressors and proper patches on the tender for the period. It was built from basic C-19 plans from Ken Pruitt and Harry Sherman, modifying their plan of the 346 to be the 41 using photos from many sources and from measurements and pictures taken by Herb Kelsey. Most of the historical data comes from The Rio Grande Southern Railroad, by Josie Moore Crum, RGS Story, Vol. XII, Dell A. McCoy, et al, and from issues of the “Galloping Goose” newsletter of the Rio Grande Southern Historical and Technical Society.

It was built by my usual team of four people. Howard Saunders did most of the initial physics, file and texture adjustment, and testing; Herb Kelsey was a constant source of technical data and pictures, and did file adjustments and extensive testing; Tom Werb, supplied the customized crew and did much final testing; and I built the model and swept the shop floor. It was built using 3D Canvas (now 3D Crafter), which I recommend highly.

To install, unzip the attached file to your desktop, or the temporary location of your choice.  This will produce a folder named “TRAINS.”  Open your Train Simulator folder where your TRAINS folder is located and drag the new “TRAINS” folder into the Train Simulator folder.  When it asks you if you wish to overwrite files, select “Yes to all.” This will install the locomotive, tender and crew and set up a consist called “RGS 41 Lite Engine.”

I hope you all enjoy running her as mush as I did building her

Click here to download this file