Crystal River No. 103 (D&RGW No. 375, as built)
It was the class name given by the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR to a single engine, a 2-8-0 built by Baldwin. In Baldwin's classification, it was a "10 30-E", construction number 21757, delivered in 1903 to the Crystal River RR in Colorado. It was a large engine for a 3-foot gauge locomotive, and could pull a lot of freight in mountainous territory. Its tractive effort (25000 pounds, the basis of the "25" in the class designation) was almost that of the well-known K-27 class, or Mudhens. Consequently, the C-25 was known affectionately as the Baby Mudhen by the D&RGW trainmen.
I am working on a live steam model of the C-25 in 1:20 scale. As source material, I am using photographs from the Denver Public Library's Western Collection, Al Armitage's drawings in the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette, Dell McCoy's book Crystal River Pictorial, Baldwin drawings from the DeGolyer Collection at Southern Methodist University, as well as other general references such as the drawings of the similar K-27 class from Model Railroader magazine and Meyer's Modern Locomotive Construction (republ. by Lindsay Publications).
The completed parts shown have been laser cut from mild steel, for the most part. I am working on patterns for the tender trucks, to be cast in a tin-lead-antimony alloy or brass. I have patterns completed for the driving wheels, and am experimenting with various metals to have them cast.
Some of the drawings and pictures which follow are presented, for the time being, without narrative. They are merely a visual diary of my progress to date. Your comments, questions and thoughts are warmly welcomed.
Updated on 11 March, 1999.