Uploaded July 2022 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
We continue our series on the Rio Grande by looking at the next improvement of the 2-8-2 Mikado "K" class: the K-36. These machines were similar to their K-27 and K-28 cousins but had a significantly larger boiler and, vis-a-vis, greater tractive effort. For the narrow gauge operations of the Denver and Rio Grande, these and the K-37 engines were among the last to operate in the age of steam. Fortunately, due to their great build quality and tractive effort, almost all of the class survived into preservation at the Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec branches of the Rio Grande network. Hope you enjoy!
We continue our series on the Rio Grande by looking at the next improvement of the 2-8-2 Mikado "K" class: the K-36. These machines were similar to their K-27 and K-28 cousins but had a significantly larger boiler and, vis-a-vis, greater tractive effort. For the narrow gauge operations of the Denver and Rio Grande, these and the K-37 engines were among the last to operate in the age of steam. Fortunately, due to their great build quality and tractive effort, almost all of the class survived into preservation at the Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec branches of the Rio Grande network. Hope you enjoy!
