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Denver & Rio Grande 268
We stumbled across 268 on one of our annual motorcycling vacations in the early 80s. Denver and Rio Grande 268 greets visitors to Gunnison, Colorado from it's home along State Highway 50 on the east edge of the City. 268 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive works in 1882. As the oldest surviving steam engine from the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge fleet it became part of a rolling exhibit commemorating the Rio Grande Western's 75th anniversary and traveled the system in 1945 painted in the gorgeous bright orange "dress uniform" paint scheme Pictured below. In 1949 the engine ran daily under it's own power at the Chicago World Railroad Fair. In 1952 it played the leading role in the motion picture "Denver & Rio Grande." In 1954 it pulled the last revenue train west of Gunnison prior to removal of the track. In 1955 It was used to power the work train that removed the rails from the Crested Butte Branch. In 1958 it was hauled from Gunnison to Denver and played a part in that City's Centennial Celebration. Upon it's return to Gunnison, 268 was restored to it's original black and silver "working" colors and placed at it's present location.
