D&RGW MWW #028, MWM AX-3330 and MWC X-3275

: DRGW #028
: DRGW AX-3330
: DRGW X-3275

These former D&RGW maintenance of way (MoW) cars are found at Grand Junction, Colorado. These cars and the former SP tool car #5810 form the UP Grand Junction wrecker derrick outfit.

MWW #028 is the 250-ton wrecker derrick built by Bucyrus in 1942. According to Rio Grande Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment (MSCG), #028 was the biggest “big hook” of Rio Grande called Samson de Grande.
The prime mover was changed from steam to 300hp Caterpillar diesel engine in 1972[1].

[1] Green Light Vol. 33, No. 12, Mar. 1973
* 1963 photo of #028 by James(Jim) Ozment at Western Rail Images website;

MWM RGAX-3335 is the boom car for #028. The number suggests this car as former D&RGW X-3335 boom car rebuilt from a sleeper-coach in 1954. But the appearance of this car more likely is that of former D&RGW boom car AX-3330.
According to MSCG, AX-3330 was rebuilt in 1981 from one of D&RGW #21500 – 21523 series 85’ flat cars built by Pullman-Standard in 1959 as the boom car for the derrick #030 assigned at Denver.
It seems AX-3330 succeeded to X-3335 including the number. The reporting mark was changed to “RGAX” after the UP merger.

* 1973 photo of X-3335 by Andy M. Payne at Friends of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad website;
* 2005 photos of AX-3330 by HistoryBuff at Trainorders.com thread;

MWC RGAX-3275 is the diner-kitchen-sleeper assigned to the wrecker derrick outfit. According to Rio Grande Diesels – Vol. 3, D&RGW X-3275 was converted from #1018, the 78-foot heavyweight Diner-Lounge Mt. Yale, in 1953. It was formerly assigned as part of the Pueblo wreck train. The reporting mark was changed to “RGAX” after the UP merger.

* photo of #1019 Mt. Princeton, later X-3274, from the same series at Utah Department of Heritage and Arts Digital Collection Archives;

All photos above are taken on Sep. 11, 2017

revised, Jan. 30, 2023

: another gang assigned to D&RGW MoW


これら旧D&RGW由来の事業用車両はコロラド州Grand Junctionで見つけた。救援・復旧用操重車およびその附属編成である。

#028は、1942年製の250トン操重車である。D&RGWにおいて最も扱重の大きい操重車で、「Samson de Grande」という愛称が附けられていたらしい。サムソンとは、旧約聖書に登場する、愛人に翻弄され痛い目に遭う怪力を誇る闘士の名前である。

RGAX-3335は、操重車に附属する控車である。「X-3335」は1954年改造の控車に附けられていた番号だが、そのX-3335はリンク先画像でご覧の通り別の車両である。当車は、車体形状から判断して、D&RGW時代「AX-3330」を名乗っていた1981年改造の控車に違いない。旧X-3335廃車の際に番号を振り替えたのだろう。

RGAX-3275は操重車に附属する救援車である。元を正せば、1910年製の食堂車を1935年に軽量流線型客車に似せて改造した車両。1953年に工事車に転用されたが、外観は開口部を含め現役当時と其程変わらない。空調室外機を屋根に載せ、老いてますます意気軒昂といったところか。手前に立つ黒く塗られたブレーキホイールは何だろう？