One of only three surviving Denver & Rio Grande Western C-16 class 2-8-0 locomotives will be restored to operation.
The locomotive in question, D&RGW 223, was built in 1881 and has been located in Ogden, Utah, for over 30 years, where efforts to restore it to running condition have stalled. On October 28, the City of Ogden, the 223 Locomotive Foundation, and the Colorado Railroad Museum announced a partnership aimed at returning the engine to operation in Colorado, where it spent much of its in-service career.
The C-16 is in many ways the quintessential Colorado narrow gauge locomotive from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Denver & Rio Grande purchased 82 of the 2-8-0s in 1881 and 1882. At first, these locomotives were called “Class 60s,” based on their weight of 60,000 pounds. In the early 1900s, many of them were rebuilt and renamed C-16s, reflecting their increased horsepower of 16,000 pounds after upgrades. By the 1920s, the C-16s were gradually phased out as K-series 2-8-2s became the main power for the Rio Grande narrow gauge.
Rio Grande C-16 223 when it was in service in the early 20th century. Photo Courtesy of Colorado Railroad Museum.
Three C-16s were preserved: 223 in Ogden, 268 in Gunnison, Colo., and 278 near Cimmaron, Colo. Locomotive 223 was displayed in Salt Lake City in 1941 and stayed there until the 1990s, when it was moved north to Ogden. A local group attempted to restore it to working condition, but that effort was later stopped.
In 2024, the locomotive was transferred from the Utah Historical Society to the City of Ogden. Since then, city officials have been working to determine the next steps for the engine and, as part of that effort, hired John Bush (former Cumbres & Toltec Scenic general manager) to conduct a thorough inspection. The assessment revealed that the locomotive could still be restored to operational condition. To accomplish this, the engine will be transferred to the recently established 223 Locomotive Foundation. Once restored to working order, it is expected to tour various narrow gauge railroads in Colorado before making its long-term home at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden.
“After so many years of being a static artifact, we will now be able to move forward in making the 223 a piece of living history to educate current and future generations on how narrow gauge railroading built the communities of the Rockies, along with the development of steam locomotives,” said 223 Locomotive Foundation President Jimmy Booth.
In recognition of Ogden’s efforts to preserve the locomotive over the years, residents will receive discounted fares on future train rides and will be honored with a plaque on the locomotive.
More about the 223 Locomotive Foundation can be found at 223locomotivefoundation.org.
—Justin Franz
