Burnham, Parry, Williams & Co., an early incarnation of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, built narrow gauge (36”) Class B-4-D-R Consolidation type
(2-8-0) locomotive #268 in 1882 for the Denver & Rio
Grande Railway. With an engine wheelbase of 17’ 10” and driver wheelbase of 11’ 4”, it weighs 60,000 lbs, 50,000 lbs on its 36” drivers. The class was designed to traverse 30° curves, so the centre drivers were flangeless and had wider treads.
The grate is 16.7 sq ft, the firebox 88 sq ft. With Stephenson valve gear, 15” x 20” cylinders and total heating surface of 852 sq ft, it operated at a boiler pressure of 130 psi delivering 13,813 lbs tractive effort. At a later date, boiler pressure was increased to 145 psi, producing tractive effort of 15,400 lbs and, later yet, to 150 psi producing tractive effort of 16,000 lbs. The tender held 6 tons of coal and 2500 gallons of water, amounting to 53,000 lbs when fully loaded.
Because of its light weight, #268 operated on the railroads branches to Crested Butte, Baldwin and Lake City, and on the main line to Montrose.
In 1949 at the Chicago Railroad Fair, with a different stack and headlight, #268 steamed daily as Cripple Creek & Tin Cup Railroad #268 with Colorado & Southern 2-6-0 #9, where it became known as "Little Buttercup" because of its bright yellow livery.
In 1952, #268 appeared in the movie Denver and Rio Grande, a romanticised history of the building of the Denver & Rio Grande filmed on the railroad’s Silverton Branch. In 1954, it hauled the last revenue train west of Gunnison prior to removal of the track.
Originally built with a wooden cowcatcher, double-link coupling bar, diamond-shaped stack and large oil headlight, over time, improvements included automatic couplers, electric headlight and generator, two air compressors, two-bar crosshead and a longer cab.
As the railroad's oldest locomotive #268 became part of a rolling exhibit, commemorating the D&RGW's 75th anniversary, which toured the system in 1945. Repainted and fitted with diamond stack and large headlight, it was carried on a standard-gauge flatcar.
In 1955, #268 was used on the wrecking train that dismantled the Crested Butte Branch tracks. It
was then retired and donated to the City of Gunnison.
After standing in Gunnison's City Park for three years, it was brought to Denver, where it was exhibited during the city's centennial celebration. On its return to Gunnison, it was painted black and placed in an open field at the opposite end of town from the park. #268 was subsequently restored and is now on display at the Gunnison Pioneer Museum.
