The End. Although most steam charter photos tend to focus on the front end of the train, the 2017 Rio Grande Southern re-creation charter at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad wasn't just about slapping some paint on Locomotive 463. The organizers put quite a bit of effort into researching historic photos of RGS operations and detailing available rolling stock to match what they found. Some of that rolling stock was indeed original RGS equipment, including the two pieces seen here. Caboose 0400 operated on the "Southern" right up until the railroad ceased operations in the early 1950s. It basically sat in what was left of the yard at Ridgway, CO for almost 10 years, before changing hands several times. During the ensuing decades, it was first allowed to deteriorate and be pilfered and was then restored by a subsequent owner. It is now in the collection of Lindsey Ashby, the former operator of the Georgetown Loop. It was loaned to the Friends of the C&TS for this charter, in exchange for some restoration work that the Friends intended to do for the charter. As can be seen here, she looks very much like the historic photos of her from 70 years or more ago. I personally had the pleasure of riding in this caboose for two days of the recent charter.
Just in front of the 0400 is RGS Outfit Car #2102. This car was originally built as a reefer car for the Colorado & Southern in 1909. It was later sold to the RGS in 1938, where it was converted to its present configuration as an Outfit Car in 1940. Like the caboose, it changed hands several times after the demise of the RGS, and is now part of the same collection as 0400. Like most historic RGS freights, our charter train was primarily hand-me-down equipment lettered for the D&RGW, but was salted with a smattering of RGS-lettered stock as well.
