<kuid2:442211:100389:1> D&RGW M-64 Class 4-8-4 1705

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D&RGW M-64 Class 4-8-4 'Western'
In the late 1920's, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad received fourteen 4-8-4 steam locomotives from the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Phillidelphia, PA. The engines acquired the class designation of M-64 and were patterned after the Northerns used by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The first batch of M-64's (1700 - 1709) arrived in Feburary of 1929, with the final and second batch (1710 - 1714) acquired in July of that year. The Rio Grande actually placed an order for the fourteen M-64 4-8-4's from ALCO, but the construction of the locomotives was subcontracted to Baldwin as ALCO was overbooked with orders at the time. The D&RGW was not pleased and sold the M-64's back to ALCO, whom leased them to the railroad, under the terms that they be returned back to the builder if the D&RGW was still not statisified. The final batch of M-64's (1710-1713) were also leased under the same conditions. The Rio Grande grew to like the M-64 class of locomotives, which operated until the very end of steam in the 1950's. The road prefered the nickname 'Western' over the usual 'Northern' for their 4-8-4 steam locomotives, just as much as the New York Central favored to nickname their 4-8-4's 'Niagaras' instead of 'Northerns.' The M-64 and M-68 'Westerns' hauled the Rio Grande's many express and named passenger trains. They were also on the point of the historic Exposition Flyer as it traveled the rails of the D&RGW, the train which would later become the famous Calfornia Zephyr, which continues to operate to this day under Amtrak. The M-64 and M-68 4-8-4 'Westerns' were eventually retired in favor of modern diesels in the 1950's. All were scrapped by June of 1956.
Credit to bdaneal for the original mesh and Philskene for updating it. Repaint by Shebashetan7.