Digging in for the climb. Having just crossed US Highway 550 in Hermosa, Colorado, the Durango & Silverton's Train 463 begins its climb up Hermosa Hill at roughly MP 462.7, headed for Rockwood Station. On the point today is a helper engine that looks a bit out of place here in Colorado, that being Southern Pacific 10-wheeler #18, which is on loan from California's Carson & Colorado Railway. The road engine this day is the more familiar K-36 #480. Both engines are oil-burners and both were firing for effect when they passed me, looking more like a fan trip than a regular tourist excursion.
So what brings SP 18 to Colorado? As you may know, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been in the process of converting its steam locomotive fleet to oil firing. This is due to a serious wildfire threat in the region and a major fire which occurred along the railroad in 2018, which many attribute to locomotive cinders. Whether or not that's true may never been known, but the railroad is not taking risks. A couple of years ago, they restored K-37 #493 and made it the laboratory for oil firing. The K-28 #473 was next, followed by the K-36 #480, seen here. As of this photo date, the K-36 #482 is currently undergoing conversion and the railroad will shortly have 4 oil-fired locomotives of its own. The SP 18 was first brought to Durango a couple of years ago to help train the crews in the fine art of firing with oil. She's back this year to provide an extra locomotive, until the 482 is done. Yes, the railroad still has a couple of operational coal-burners on the roster, those being K-36 #481 and K-28 #476. According to the crews, the coal-burners will probably be used in the winter, and the oil-burners in the summer. Eventually, all will be converted to oil, but the near-term goal is 4 locomotives and very shortly, they will achieve that.
