The Denver and Rio Grande Western K-36 class are ten narrow gauge, Mikado type, 2-8-2

2-8-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

 steam locomotives built for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad

The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental...

 (DRGW) by Baldwin Locomotive Works

Baldwin Locomotive Works

The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

. They were shipped to the Rio Grande in 1925, and were first used along the Monarch Branch

Monarch Branch

The Monarch Branch was a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western which left the narrow gauge transcontinental route at Poncha Junction a few miles west of Salida, Colorado. The narrow gauge branch built in the 1880s served Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone quarry at Monarch, Colorado...

 and Marshall Pass

Marshall Pass

Marshall Pass is between Salida and Gunnison at the Continental Divide. Marshall Pass was discovered by, and named for, Lt. William L. Marshall of the Wheeler Survey in 1873...

, but were later sent to the Third Division out of Alamosa

Alamosa, Colorado

The city of Alamosa is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 8,682 in 2005...

. Of the original ten, four are owned by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates of track between Durango and Silverton, in the US state of Colorado...

 (D&SNG) and five by the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad

The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. It runs over the Cumbres Pass, the highest point on a US passenger railway....

 (C&TS). Number 485 fell into the turntable pit at Salida

Salida, Colorado

The City of Salida is a Statutory City that is the county seat and most populous city of Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,504 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:800px|thumb|left| Panoramic View of Salida, 1910...

 and was scrapped in Pueblo

Pueblo, Colorado

Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....

 in 1955, with many parts being saved.

In Service

The K-36s were used primarily as freight locomotives out of Alamosa to Durango

Durango, Colorado

The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...

, and to Farmington, New Mexico

Farmington, New Mexico

Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...

, as well as out of Salida to Gunnison (over Marshall Pass

Marshall Pass

Marshall Pass is between Salida and Gunnison at the Continental Divide. Marshall Pass was discovered by, and named for, Lt. William L. Marshall of the Wheeler Survey in 1873...

) until 1955 and to Monarch on the Monarch Branch

Monarch Branch

The Monarch Branch was a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western which left the narrow gauge transcontinental route at Poncha Junction a few miles west of Salida, Colorado. The narrow gauge branch built in the 1880s served Colorado Fuel & Iron limestone quarry at Monarch, Colorado...

 until 1956. They were built with special valves to allow brake control between locomotives while double-heading

Double-heading

In railroad terminology, double-heading or double heading indicates the use of two locomotives at the front of a train, each operated individually by its own crew. The practice of triple-heading involves the use of three locomotives....

, and were commonly found between Alamosa and Chama

Chama, New Mexico

Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. It is a small village, but tourism is starting to help the town's economy .-Geography:...

, New Mexico. They were heavily used during the pipe boom in Farmington, and hauled long freight trains between Alamosa and Farmington.

Roster

Number	Photo	Builder's Number	Current Owner	Notes
480		58558	D&SNG	Retired 1970 to D&SNG 3/1981
481		58559	D&SNG	To D&SNG 3/1981 First K-36 run to Silverton
482		58541	D&SNG	Retired 1962 to C&TS 1970 to D&SNG 1991
483		58584	C&TS	To C&TS 1970
484		58585	C&TS	To C&TS 1970
485		58586		Dismantled 1/24/1955
486		58587	D&SNG	Retired 1962 to Royal Gorge for display, 12/1967 to D&SNG, 1999
487		58588	C&TS	To C&TS 1970
488		58589	C&TS	To C&TS 1970
489		58590	C&TS	Retired 1962 to C&TS 1970