Consolidation No. 44 was the first locomotive acquired by Lindsey and Rosa Ashby for their "Colorado Central Narrow Gauge Railroad," which operated over the ex-C&S right of way at Central City, Colorado from 1968 until 1981. Built by Baldwin, the locomotive spent all of its working life on the International Railway of Central America (FIdeCA), and was brought back to the US by the Ashby's in the summer of 1968. It was steamed that year - still with F.I. de C. A. lettering on its tender - for tourists visiting Central City. It ran there until 1973 when it was sent to the Georgetown Loop, also managed by the Ashby's (until 2004). It last steamed there around 1984, and spent its final days at the Loop on static display in front of the Georgetown depot where I photographed it in 1996. Dismantled in the early 2000s for an overhaul that never happened, it is now stored in the Denver area.
