You have to salute the Denver Rock Island Railroad for extending the operational life of the units they own. Were it not for them using their versatile fleet of SW1500, SW10, NW2 and SW8 engines servicing the central industrial area of Denver, those engines would have likely been scrapped long ago. DRIR 553 was built in 1938 for the Rock Island Railroad and, until recently acquired by the DRIR, shuttled freight for the Coors Brewing Company in nearby Golden, Colorado. Given the pending changes to Denver's central industrial area, via the conversion of yet more industrial infrastructure to new 'urban villages', bereft of rail traffic in lieu of pedestrian paths and bike lanes, you better plan on visiting the Denver Rock Island Railroad soon. To find them just go to Packinghouse Road and listen for the unique horn on their 78 year old SW8.
