| Someone
once said that if model railroads truly reflected their prototypes, that 1/2 of all the
railroad track in America would be narrow gauge. In truth, however, narrow gauge lines
probably represented less than one percent of the total railroad mileage in this country,
but their spirit of challenge, unique nature, and often spectacular accompanying scenery,
have captured the imagination of train lovers everywhere, and no narrow gauge line has
ever sparked more interest than the 3 foot gauge railroads that conquered Colorado's Rocky
Mountains.
Most of what was to become the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad was initially constructed by several smaller intermediary construction
firms. With routes out of Denver blocked to the south by the Santa Fe, these companies
turned west toward the rugged Rocky Mountains. In order to meet the challenges of such
rough terrain, engineers implemented spiraling loops, steep grades, and tunnels.
Therefore, it was decided for the most part to use 3 foot narrow gauge track as an economy
measure.
The Union Pacific was supporting two Colorado
managed narrow gauge railroads in the 1870-80s, the Colorado Central and the Denver, South
Park and Pacific. In the early 1880's, the UP bought 16 identical 2-6-0's from the Brooks
Locomotive Works of Dunkirt, NY. In 1898 the UP was forced to return the South Park to
independent status and after some shuffling it emerged in 1902 as the Colorado and
Southern, later to be bought up by Burlingotn. By then, all but two of these Moguls were
scrapped. Of the two survivors, the last, South Park #35 "Dillon" became
Colorado and Southern #22, and was finally scrapped in 1927. Even though #22 and it
sister, C&S #21 were referred to as the "Brooks Moguls", in the end very
little of the original locomotives were left, each having been completely rebuilt.
Probably the same could be said for the C&S Cooke built Moguls numbered 4-13. Not only
did they share the same track, it is as also likely that they shared a good number of the
same parts in the end.
Aster has modeled C&S Mogul #22 capturing the
look and feel of this favorite 3 ft. gauger as she appeared toward the end of her career
in the mid-1920's. The realistic detailing includes the distinctive Ridgeway "Bear
Trap" spark arrestor worn by all C&S motive power in that era and the unique
cross-mounted air tank on top of its boiler crested with a bell. A scale of 1/22.5 was
chosen making it compatible to today's popular "G-Scale" rolling stock and its
larger radius sectional track. |
