D&RGW FB #22359

: DRGW 22359

This D&RGW bulkhead flatcar is found at Monte Vista, Colorado.

According to Rio Grande Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment (MSCG), 22330 – 22474 series bulkhead flat cars were rebuilt between 1955 and 1959 for plasterboard service at Sigurd, Utah. They had steel lockers in both bulkheads for shipping joint tape and compound at the same time[1]. The plasterboard was wrapped in a vinyl sheet and packed in a wooden crate[2].

22000 – 22199 series flat cars built in 1944 by Mount Vernon or 22200 – 22329 series flat cars built in 1951 by the railroad are the ancestor of these cars. This particular car seems rebuilt from #22279 built in December 1951.


D&RGW 22330 – 22473 series Bulkhead Flat Cars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1974 shows the group with 130 cars in place, described as follows:

AAR Designation FB and description “Flat, Stl. Underfr., Blkhds, (Wall Board)”

The inside length of these cars is 48 feet 6 inches, inside width 10 feet 6 inches, outside length 53 feet 6 inches, extreme height 10 feet 2 inches and capacity 110,000 pounds.


All photos are taken on Sep. 6, 2017

revised, Nov. 17, 2023

[1] Eaton, Richard (2006) “Post WWⅡ Improvement Programs” Vol. 5, No. 1, The Prospector, The Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society
[2] Annual Report 1963, The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company

: DRGW 22359. Locker (doors missing) in bulkhead

Japanese & Comments

D&RGW MWK #052 and #062

: DRGW #052
: DRGW #052

These D&RGW flangers are found at Monte Vista, Colorado.

According to Rio Grande Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment (MSCG), #050 – 053 series flangers were rebuilt from wood-frame flangers in 1941. But the consolidated stencil on #052 has a 1979 rebuilt date and rides on Barber S-2 trucks cast 1957.

#062 flanger was rebuilt in 1965 from a wood-frame car and rides on ASF Ride Control truck on A-end and Barber S-2 truck on B-end.


These two flangers were based at Alamosa in the ’70s and the ’80s. D&RGW GP-9s, #5951 and 5953 equipped with snowplows and remote flanger control system, were assigned to drag them[1].


As of January 2024, both cars are based at Heber City to be used on the Heber Valley Railroad[2].

All photos are taken on Sep. 6, 2017

revised, Jan. 18, 2024

[1] Strack, Don “Pilot Snow Plows” UtahRails.net web page;
[2] Jan. 17, 2024 Railfan & railroad Magazine;
* mid-80's photo of D&RGW GP-9 #5953 with snowplow;

: DRGW #062
　
　

Japanese & Comments

D&RGW MWC X-2574

: DRGW X-2574

This D&RGW MoW equipment is found at Grand Junction, Colorado. It appears to be marked as D&RGW X-2574.

According to Rio Grande Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment (MSCG), this car seems one of the MoW equipment rebuilt from 65000 – 65090 series boxcars built in 1901 by Pressed Steel Car: Murphy ends were applied in 1926 and roof was raised in 1937.

D&RGW 1962 Summary of Equipment lists X2550 − X2570 series cars as Kitchen-Diners[1]. Also is that I couldn't find any drawings of a MoW equipment with such a window-openings layout in D&RGW Standard Plans Book[2]. Accordingly, the function of the particular car is uncertain.


Similar unidentified boxcar/MoW equipment is found opposite the depot, next to an NG boxcar: it used as an extension to the commercial structure.

All photos are taken on Sep. 11, 2017

revised, Dec. 3, 2021

[1] D&RGW 1962 Summary of Equipment at DRGW.Net web site;
[2] D&RGW Standard Plans Book;

: DRGW X-2574

Japanese & Comments

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

Japanese & Comments

D&RGW RBL #60608

: Chesterton, IN. Sep. 5, 2019

Though painted and lettered as Monon equipment, this boxcar is D&RGW RBL #60608.
The town of Chesterton, IN bought the car from Orrville Railroad Historical Society in 2018 and converted it to the restrooms for the park at the center of the town.
How beautifully the body is masqueraded, the marking on the truck cannot hide the origin.

According to the Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society web site, DRGW #60600-60714 series RBL were built by Pacific Car & Foundry in 1960 for hauling grocery products. They were painted aspen gold over silver, black ends and stripe, and with flying Rio Grande logo.

* photos of DRGW #60685, 60687, and 60705;

: Chesterton, IN. Sep. 5, 2019

Japanese & Comments