Cimarron Train & Bridge Restoration Project

 

Engine 278, its coal tender, boxcar and caboose in the maintenance yard at Cimarron before being moved for restoration.

NPS

 

Engine 278 was built for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1882 to pull trains on the narrow-gauge railroad lines that ran from Crested Butte to Gunnison and Montrose. The engine was “retired” in 1952 and given to the City of Montrose. The Pratt Truss Bridge that sits over the river was built in 1895 to replace the original wooden trestle.

After 70 years of operation and almost 60 years on exhibit, the train at Cimarron needed restoration and repairs due to weathering, rust, and rot.

Engine 278, its coal tender, boxcar and caboose were removed from the truss bridge in July 2010 for restoration. Restoration and repairs were completed on the train cars in 2012. Bridge inspection was conducted in 2012 and 2013. Repairs and painting were completed in 2014. The train cars were returned to the truss bridge in 2018.

 

National Register of Historic Places

The set of rail cars have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. This listing provides recognition of the significance of the resources, and opens funding avenues for preservation actions.

Historic preservation staff at the National Park Service regional office in Lakewood, Colorado prepared the nominations. They worked closely with staffs from Curecanti National Recreation Area, the City of Montrose, the Colorado State Historical Society, the Colorado Railroad Museum, and railcar manufacturers to prepare the nominations.

Property	Date Listed	Level of Significance*
Locomotive #278 & Tender	April 21, 2009	State
Caboose #0577	April 21, 2009	State
Box Outfit Car #04414	July 23, 2009	State
Boxcar #3132	September 2, 2009	State
Stock Car #5620	January 27, 2010	State
Stock Car #5679D	January 27, 2010	State
Derrick Car	May 10, 2010	State

* Properties are listed at the local, state, or national level of significance. Example of these levels might equate to the site of a town's first post office (local), the site of the first state assembly (state), Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello (national).

July 2010

 

 

Park archeologist and restoration staff look at the tender, a rail vehicle used to carry fuel.

NPS/Paul Zaenger

January 2011

On January 21, 2011, Engine 278 was loaded on a flatbed trailer and transported to Palisade. Mammoth Locomotive Works in Palisade, CO will complete the restoration of the locomotive.

March 2011

Engine 278 was disassembled. It produced multiple pallets of small parts, and several long shelves of tubes and piping. Paint and rust from the metal parts was removed.

The cab of the engine car was removed basically intact, with only a few small pieces detached to facilitate removal. Sound portions of the cab were salvaged. The analysis of the cab's wood indicated the cab is constructed or a combination of ash, oak and fir woods.

Work began on the tender, with the tank and coal bin being separated from the undercarriage. Rotted wood components of the tender frame were replaced with the same types of wood to maintain the historic character of the tender.

 

Restored cab of the #278 locomotive

NPS/F. Frost

June 2011

A new engine house for the locomotive is built since the old one had rotted wood. The tender "box" was lifted off the frame and wheel assembly. It revealed rotted beams that needed replacement.

October 2011

The restoration of the D&RGW locomotive #278 continues. Most of the locomotives metal parts, including the boiler, are treated and painted. A few major components, such as the smoke stack, remain to be processed. The restoration of the locomotive cab is complete except for painting. Reassembly of the locomotive has begun and will take a few months.

After disassembly of the tender, the wooden platform (sills and end beams) will be replaced. The contractor obtained appropriate replacement beams to keep the restoration true to the D&RGW methods and techniques.

Contract is extended another 180 days from the original 270 days. This allowed for flexibility with return and set up due to weather, as well as additional repairs needed. Cimarron must be clear and dry to reduce any risk of transport damage. Once delivered, cars are stored at the temporary storage yard until all four cars are restored.

 

Truss Bridge at Cimarron

NPS

2012–2014

The second phase of the Cimarron Train Restoration Project began. This phase determined the condition of the bridge across the Cimarron River where the locomotive and related cars were displayed.

A detailed inspection of the bridge was made, and every crack, mend, missing rivet and twisted piece of metal was thoroughly documented in summer of 2012. The information was used by an engineering firm to determine if any of these factors affected the ability of the bridge to safely hold the train for display. Any factors that presented a risk were scheduled for repair.

A coatings specialist from the Bureau of Reclamation inspected the bridge in fall of 2013 and documented areas of rust and the degree that the paint had deteriorated. His report made several recommendations for repainting the bridge.

The bridge was repaired and painted in summer of 2014.

 

The boxcar and caboose are reinstalled on the truss bridge in fall 2018.

NPS

2018–Present

Engine 278, its coal tender, a boxcar, and caboose were returned to the truss bridge in Cimarron in fall of 2018.

The NPS celebrated the return of the train cars in 2019 with a public ceremony.

Currently the rail exhibit is open daily at Cimarron. The rail yard exhibit adjacent to the Cimarron Campground is also open daily.