Moving D&RGW 029 to Granby – April 14, 2018

D&RGW Steam Derrick 029

Denver & Rio Grande Western 029 is a 120-ton crane known as a derrick – a specialized piece of equipment built to pick up wrecked railroad equipment and clean up derailment sites. Built back in April 1913 by Industrial Brownhoist, the crane was originally Denver & Salt Lake 10300. With the D&SL eventually sold to the Denver & Rio Grande Western in 1931, the derrick went on to become D&RGW 029 when the former road was finally fully integrated in 1947. The derrick is unique in that it is still largely original, right down to the fact that it’s still steam-powered.

D&RGW X-3317 – the “flat car” – is more appropriately known as a blocking & tool car. It was built to protect the boom during movement, carry tools, and transport blocking and rigging that the derrick crew would use to retrieve wrecked cars. It’s historic in its own right. It was built at Burnham in 1951 from a 1930s-era boxcar.

After retirement, D&RGW 029 and X-3317 passed from Union Pacific to Dan Quiat, who was building a collection of historic Rio Grande MoW equipment that was stored at Burnham that he eventually intended to turn into the Museum of Railway Workers.

However, in 2015 Union Pacific decided that they would be permanently closing the Rio Grande’s former Burnham Shops and eventually selling the property. By 2017, things were becoming critical, with much of Dan’s equipment trapped. UP wanted to clean out the place to ready it for sale, and the equipment for the Museum of Railway Workers had nowhere to go.

Then the legal proceedings began… I’m going to skip that part, because I honestly don’t know all the details. The short version is that UP claimed they had the right to remove the equipment, since they had essentially evicted Dan in order to clean out the property, and Dan claimed they had no right to do so, since they didn’t own any of it. Fortunately for preservation, UP decided that rather than cut up all of it, they would transfer a few pieces to museums. Specifically, D&RGW 3006 and 01447 went to the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, and D&RGW 029 went to the Forney on its way to the Moffat Road Museum in Granby. The transfer from Burnham to the Forney Museum took place on Feb 18, 2018, appropriately enough lead by UP 1345 (ex-DRGW 3124), and UP 1370 (ex-DRGW 3119).

The crane sat for two months, and then on Saturday, April 14, 2018, the UP Steam Crew came to facilitate the move up to Granby. These guys have a lot of experience in handling vintage equipment, and also a vested interest in historic preservation. My understanding is that it was only via their intervention that UP agreed to make the move at all.

Switching at the Forney Museum

Before things could get moving, the crew spent a significant amount of time going over the equipment, making sure everything was secure and safe for movement. Also it took a little while for the road crew and power to show up.

Once the power arrived – UP 3902 and UP 8484 – it was a simple matter of pulling the derrick and flat out and putting a wooden passenger car and DRGW caboose 01447 back in their place. With a few more checks completed, the crew hung the EOT device, did a brake test, and was ready to head west.

The Forney Museum of Transportation yard tracks on the morning of April 18, 2018.

Having been moved from the former Burnham Shops site, D&RGW derrick 029 and its associated flat wait inside the Forney Museum's fence. — Having been moved from the former Burnham Shops site, D&RGW derrick 029 and its associated flat wait inside the Forney Museum’s fence.

A look at the business end of the crane before the crew went to work securing the hooks with some nylon strapping.

While the crew was there, they did a bit of switching around for the Forney. The steam derrick and flat were moved such that DRGW caboose 01447 and a wooden passenger car could be moved onto that storage track.

The first step in the process is to get the switch into the Forney Museum's trackage to actually line and lock. — The first step in the process is to get the switch into the Forney Museum’s trackage to actually line and lock.

After some delay, the road power arrives - UP 8484 (an SD70ACe) and UP 3902 (a Tier I-compliant SD70M). — After some delay, the road power arrives – UP 8484 (an SD70ACe) and UP 3902 (a Tier I-compliant SD70M).

The first step was to pull the derrick out such that the caboose and wooden passenger car could be shoved back in that same track.

Probably one of the only times a pair of SD70s has been tied to a wooden passenger coach and a caboose.

Despite being defaced by some rattle-can vandals, 01447 is still in pretty good shape for its age. It and DRGW 3006 arrived in Feb 2018 from Burnham.

Securing the big hook just so it doesn't get to swinging during the trip. — Securing the big hook just so it doesn’t get to swinging during the trip.

Hanging the FRED and getting ready to do a brake test just before departure.

The crew has almost everything buttoned up at the Forney and is just about ready to start the trip west to Granby.

And with the brake test done, we're ready to go. — And with the brake test done, we’re ready to go.

On the Move! Denver to East Portal

Once on the move, it was a long steady run all the way up to the Moffat Tunnel. The train was limited to a relatively low speed – 25 mph if I remember correctly – so for the most part, the chase was easy except through the western Denver suburbs.

UP 3902 is wasting no time on the bypass, having just come under I-25 and approaching North Yard and the connection into the Moffat Route.

Coming through Crescent just as the sun ducks under some high haze.

Just another shot from the highway at Rollins.

Through the east switch up at East Portal

As you can see, it's still winter up in the mountains. There's a snow squall parked over the divide. — As you can see, it’s still winter up in the mountains. There’s a snow squall parked over the divide.

And into the tunnel we go... In 15 minutes, UP 3902 and crew will be headed down the other side. For any of us wanting to chase it, it would prove to be ~2 hours to the other side by road. Most of us went for beer instead. — And into the tunnel we go… In 15 minutes, UP 3902 and crew will be headed down the other side. For any of us wanting to chase it, it would prove to be ~2 hours to the other side by road. Most of us went for beer instead.

The eastbound California Zephyr emerges from the Moffat Tunnel, lead by AMTK 818, one of the early P40DCs.

At Home in Granby

It took half a year, but in the winter of 2018-2019, an even larger crane and several track panels were used to move D&RGW 029 from the Granby house track over a few hundred yards to the museum grounds. It looks like this Rio Grande relic will be safe for the foreseeable future.

D&RGW 029 sits next to the museum building in April of 2019.

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