"The Profile of a Workhorse" - Denver & Rio Grande Western K-36 #480 - October 25, 2025

A light gray stack indicates the fireman of D&RGW K-36 #480 has the fire dialed in as the narrow gauge Mikado works hard at "New Curve", just south of Silverton, CO on October 24, 2025.

The Animas River rages beneath the photographer's feet as D&RGW K-36 #480 stomps north to Silverton, CO on October 24, 2025 with her mixed train. This was taken as part of the Durango and Silverto... (more)

The engineer of D&RGW K-36 #480 opens the blowdown valve on his side of the narrow gauge Mikado removing dissolved solids and impurities from the inferior most portion of the boiler on October 24,... (more)

"Volanic": D&RGW K-36 stomps around the Silverton Branch's High Line on October 24, 2025. Hauling a mixed train north to Silverton, CO #480 is performing a job that has been done for ove... (more)

A cold brisk morning in Silverton, CO on October 25, 2025 greets the Durango and Silverton train crew as #480 couples up to her mixed train for a day of narrow gauge railroading. This was taken on... (more)

D&RGW K-36 #480 hustles by a pond near the Colorado Trail (Milepost 491.25) on October 25, 2025 with her mixed train bound for Durango, CO. #480 and her sister K-36 locomotives turn 100 years old ... (more)

Engineer Bobby Barnes feathers the automatic train brake on D&RGW K-36 #480 on the morning of October 24, 2025. #480, built in 1925, is equipped with a Westinghouse 6-ET brake system.

D&RGW K-36 #480 puts on a show as it stomps around Horseshoe Curve of the D&RGW High Line on October 24, 2025.

D&RGW K-36 #480 hustles through "New Curve" just outside of Silverton, CO on October 24, 2025 with its mixed train. The powerful Animas River flows just off the right of way of the forme... (more)

D&RGW #480 powers past Needleton Tank on the Silverton Branch on October 25, 2025. While no longer in service this water stop used to serve countless trains to and from Silverton, CO during the op... (more)

D&RGW #480 leads her mixed train south on the Silverton Branch near "Goblin Fire" on October 25, 2025. This photo was taken as part of the Durango and Silverton's K-36 100th anniversary ... (more)

"Narrow Gauge Morning" - Durango and Silverton High Line - October 24, 2025.

D&RGW K-36 #480 hustles north to Silverton, CO on October 24, 2025 with her mixed train at Cement Wall. As one of the most dramatic locations for photography on the Silverton Branch, Cement Wall o... (more)

The Animas River roars in the canyon below as D&RGW K-36 Mikado #480 stomps north on the High Line on October 24, 2025. Even with warmer weather behind them some whitewater rafters and kayakers we... (more)