DRGW 4-Axle Units

Rio Grande was a long-time buyer of 4-axle diesels. True, nothing else was available in 1941, but going against conventional wisdom the railroad found a way to make B-B traction effective on its steep mountain grades. The D&RGW also used a variety of switcher locomotives from all the manufacturers of the day.

This page has tabular data interspersed with a selection of photographs of the various types. This is not intended as a comprehensive reference, but rather as a structure for the photos I have. I don’t show the Baldwins or Alco RS-3’s, for instance.

GP30s

GP40s

GP40-2s

GP60s

Switchers
Number Range	Mfg / Type	Qty (Qty of units)	Date Purchased
38 – 43	GE 44-Ton	6	1941 – 1942
130 – 139	EMD SW-1200	10	1964 – 1965
140 – 149	EMD SW-1000	10	1966, 1968

Ex-D&RGW GE 44-tonner No. 40. This locomotive was sold to Great Western Sugar in 1954 and spent most of its life there. Here it’s still wearing the GW paint. For the past 2 decades it has sat across from the old water tank in South Fork, Colorado.

Built September 1942, and shown here on 2/17/2020.

drgw141

SW-1000 No. 141

Top: switching North Yard in Denver on 11/19/1990.

Bottom: a decade later, No. 141 has been retired. Here it’s seen near the turntable at the former C&NW shops in Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Photo, Jeff Ramsell)

Early Diesels (First Generation, through 1957)
Number Range	Mfg / Type	Qty (Qty of units)	Date Purchased
5651 – 5694	EMD F7 (ABBA Sets)	20 (5X4)	1950
5762 – 5763	EMD F9B	2	1955
5771 – 5774	EMD F9 (ABBA)	4	1955

	F7 No. 5671 and three B units are rolling eastbound at Crescent. Photo courtesy of Bruce Collins. Bruce took this photo sometime in the late 1960s at the cut at the east end of Crescent siding. The four F’s are leading a GP30 and another geep.
	F9B No. 5762 in April, 1983.(Photo, Woody Woodward)
	F9B No. 5763 in April, 1983.(Photo, Woody Woodward)
	F9 No. 5771, as she appeared at the end of her service life. Long the designated leader on the Rio Grande Zephyr, she’s seen here in Grand Junction in April 1983. Sometime in 1980 she had a collision with a truck in Utah that destroyed her stock EMD pilot. The D&RGW shops fabricated this simple one out of 1/2″ plate steel as a replacement. (Photo, Woody Woodward)

Top of Page	GP40s	GP40-2s	GP60s
GP30s and GP35s
Number Range	Date Purchased	Comments
3001 – 3013	Apr-May 1962	GP30 Nos. 3001, 3002 later received large Rio Grande herald.
3014 – 3028	Jan-Feb 1963	GP30 Nos. 3014, 3027 later received large Rio Grande herald. Nos. 3021-3028 downgraded to B-unit status in 1972.
3029 – 3038	May-June 1964	All GP35s delivered sans plows but they were soon installed. All GP35s converted to B-unit status in 1972. Some promoted back to leader status circa 1989.
3039 – 3049	Dec 1964- Jan 1965	3048 wrecked 1971, rebuilt and painted with billboard herald.

	GP30 No. 3002 — May 14, 1999, at Alamosa. By the time this was taken, it was one of only 3 Rio Grande GP30’s still running. The other two (3003, 3015) were retired by the end of the month. The 3002 was retired at Little Rock on August 3rd, 1999, and subsequently scrapped.
	GP30 No. 3006, two views, at Colorado Springs in September 1994. The Rio Grande and its two successor roads typically kept a four-axle unit in the Springs to handle the local chores. There are a number of industries around the city that are served by the railroad. As of 2024 there is still a Rio Grande caboose that is used for the local jobs. The 3006 was retired at Denver on December 23rd, 1998, and sold in September 2000. At last word it was stored at the Forney Museum in Denver.
	Two GP30’s, Nos. 3008 and 3020, seen on a work train near Mill Fork, UT on 8/28/1992.These units represent both orders of Rio Grande’s GP30’s. Note the difference in cab length. The 3008’s cab is shorter, so there is an extra handrail stanchion just behind the cab. Photo courtesy of David Verdi. The 3008 was retired on April 28th, 1997, and sold to NREX. The 3020 was retired in 1995 before the UP merger, eventually ending up on the Cimmaron Valley RR where it was wrecked in 2003.
	No. 3015 shown in California circa 1999. Duane Simmons photo. Unit retired May 1999 and scrapped 2007.
	GP35 No. 3034 entering the Moffat Tunnel on Labor Day weekend 1966. Though the framing of the photo is unfortunate, we can see that the unit is leading a train (not possible after 1972). Also note the tall exhaust stack. I enjoy seeing the 1960’s fashions; the tunnel was a popular place for travelers to stop and watch trains. Photo by my dad (I was only 6 then!) The 3034 was retired October 1991. Later rebuilt by Omnitrax as a GP38-3, and as of 2022 is CEFX 3034.
	GP35 No. 3045 is the fifth unit on a westbound freight getting ready to leave Grand Junction in early 1990. Also shown are ex-Conrail GP40’s 3132, 3136, and 3143 (as well as SP 8525 behind). Photo courtesy David Standon. Note that it’s now a fully-featured unit capable of leading trains again. NEW IMAGE The 3045 went to the Wheeling & Lake Erie in 1997.

Top of Page	GP30-GP35s	GP40-2s	GP60s
GP40s For the discerning modeler (or spotter), I have created a spreadsheet showing various modifications to the GP40 and GP40-2 series over time. Links to representative images are included. The file can be downloaded here. No warranties, express or implied, about the embedded links!
No. Range	Date Acquired	Comments
3051 – 3063	Jan 1966	Demoted to B-unit status, 1972. Surviving units promoted back after SPL merger.
3064 – 3068	Sept 1966	Demoted to B-unit status, 1972. Surviving units promoted back after SPL merger.
3069 – 3080	Feb 1967	3069-3075 demoted to B-unit status, 1972. Surviving units promoted back after SPL merger.
3081 – 3085	Oct 1969	Delivered in Billboard “Rio Grande” herald.
3086 – 3093	Nov 1971	Delivered in Billboard “Rio Grande” herald. Extended-range dynamic brakes on these units.
3131 – 3153	1983	Purchased second-hand from Conrail. Had temporary unit numbers until repainted in 1984-1985, using a darker orange color than rest of fleet. No low-nose headlights on these units.
	GP40B No. 3051 — Dec. 24, 1988, on a westbound manifest at Tunnel 1 above Denver (shortly after the SP merger). The 3051 was retired in 1996, prior to the UP merger.
	GP40B No. 3052 is in the middle of a consist rolling through Glenwood Springs on 11/08/1981. This photo by my sainted mother. Another simultaneous view here. I also saw it at Salida during July 1994 but didn’t get a photo. It was sold by SP just prior to the UP merger and went to various lessors after that.
	GP40B No. 3057 — January 1982. It’s the trailing unit on a westbound manifest at Blue Mountain crossing(Coal Creek Canyon). Dan Adams photo. The flank of 3057 also shows up in this photo. The 3057 was sold to Omnitrax (Loveland, CO) in February 1995.
	GP40 No. 3065 — This unit was sold to Helm Leasing, and was sent to the new San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad in Alamosa in 2003. Here it is seen back on home rails but in different colors, on June 30, 2003.
	GP40 No. 3072 — At Alamosa, May 14, 1999. It was in the MPUAA road power consist, waiting for the locals to finish their chores. Note, it’s in nearly the same place as 3065 above, albeit four years earlier. The 3072 was retired on May 15th, 2000.
	GP40 No. 3077 — Dec. 24, 1988, with the eastbound RailBlazer piggyback train emerging from tunnel one. That’s GP40-2 No. 3116 on the drawbar. This is still one of my all-time favorite images I’ve captured. UPDATED AND ENLARGED IMAGE The 3077 was retired in 1996, prior to the UP merger, and is now Helm Leasing (HATX) No. 806, working on the Vermont Rail System. Unit now classified as a GP40-3.
	Sometimes you just have to take what you can get… Here is GP40 No. 3080, buried deep in the readyline area at Grand Junction (8/03/1998). It’s mostly original, minus the low-nose lights. This is the highest numbered unit to receive the small “flying” Rio Grande herald. The 3080 was retired 6/20/2001, and sold 12-10-2001 to the W&LE. It was rebuilt by them as a GP40-3 and renumbered 304. It was wrecked in a head-on collision in November 2018.
	GP40 No. 3131— The lowest-numbered of the ex-Conrail GP40s, seen at Alamosa yard on 8/02/1997. Scanned from the negative but there’s only so much you can do with a backlit subject… It also shows up in this photo.The 3131 was retired on 5/25/2001, and sold to the Wheeling and Lake Erie (W&LE) on 12/10/2001.
	Repeating a photo from above: GP40s Nos. 3132, 3136, and 3143— all running on a westbound freight about to leave Grand Junction in early 1990. Photo courtesy of David Standon. The 3132 was sold in 5/25/2001, and eventually was converted to a road slug on the Paducah and Louisville. The 3136 was similarly sold in 2001 and bounced around the country, seemingly unused. The 3143 was sold by SP in April 1996, rebuilt, and ended up with LTV Steel in 1997.
	GP40 No. 3138, one of the ex-Conrail units, and one of three GP40’s that were repainted into the SP “Speed Lettering” scheme. Note the road initials below the cab number. It’s shown here circa 1999. Photo by Duane Simmons. NEW IMAGE The 3138 was retired with a bent frame 1999, scrapped in Roseville 2003.
	GP40 No. 3141 — One of the Conrail geeps, passing the Glenwood Springs depot on 6/29/95. The 3141 was retired in August 2001 and scrapped in December of that year.
	GP40 No. 3149 — Another one of the Conrail geeps. Brad Hoeme photo. The 3149 was assigned UP 735 but never renumbered, and was retired in May 2000.

Top of Page	GP30-GP35s	GP40s	GP60s
GP40-2s For the discerning modeler (or spotter), I have created a spreadsheet showing various modifications to the GP40 and GP40-2 series over time. Links to representative images are included. The file can be downloaded here. No warranties, express or implied, about the embedded links!
Number Range	Date Purchased	Comments
3094 – 3105	Apr 1972	All GP40-2s delivered in the billboard “Rio Grande” scheme.
3106 – 3115	Dec 1972	All GP40-2s delivered in the billboard “Rio Grande” scheme.
3116 – 3127	Sept 1974	All GP40-2s delivered in the billboard “Rio Grande” scheme.
3128	Nov 1974	Replaced wrecked GP40 No. 3063.
3129 – 3130	1983	Also wreck replacements. Have many updated features similar to EMD’s GP50 model.
Happily, Union Pacific has found its legacy GP40-2’s useful. It likes them for local jobs and yard switching. Even to the present day UP not only keeps these units on the roster, but rebuilds and/or updates them. And through the inner mysteries of power assignments, I have noticed a lot of former D&RGW units end up back in their original haunts on old Rio Grande tracks. If you see a Geep with a UP number in the 1300 range in Denver or Pueblo or Grand Junction, look it up at utahrails.net.
	GP40-2 No. 3095. Top: Seen in Pueblo in early 1990 (at left). Note that it’s got a freshly cleaned (painted?) pilot, whereas the rest of the unit is filthy. I’ve not seen this condition much on Rio Grande units, which makes me wonder if there wasn’t some kind of repair done. David Standen photo. NEW IMAGE Bottom: It survived unscathed through the SP era, but was quickly repainted as shown after the UP merger (May 1997). It was renumbered to UP 1447 in 2005. Photo circa 2000 by Duane Simmons.
	No. 3096, along with GP40 No. 3135, working a local in central California, circa 2000.It kept this paint and number until 2005, when most of the remaining D&RGW units were scooped up in the UP renumbering process. Photo by Duane Simmons.
	Three views of GP40-2 No. 3097, as it was serving as the Colorado Springs switcher, Sept. 19, 1999. The paint was starting to fade a bit by this time. Notice the lack of a nose herald on this unit. In earlier days it did indeed have the “Rio Grande” lettering on the nose, but lost it in the early 1980s for some reason. These images are enlarged and updated as of 3/12/2024. This unit was renumbered to UP 1352 in July 2005.
	Four top views of GP40-2 No. 3097. These were sent to me by Dave Crinklaw back in December 2000, and somehow I never dealt with them. After 16 years I rediscovered them in my inbox, so here they are! All I know about them is that: (1) they were taken in North Yard off the 48th street viaduct, and (2) they were taken sometime prior to December 5, 2000.These are nice sharp images and provide good looks at the top details of this early-version GP40-2. Too bad we can’t make out the numbers of the other two locomotives in the shots.
	No. 3098, seen in California circa 1999. Photo by Duane Simmons. Retired 10/29/1999 and scrapped a couple of years later.
	No. 3100 worked around Denver and the front range for many years after the UP merger, but I never managed to get a decent photograph of it before getting patched. It was the last D&RGW GP40-series unit to be renumbered from its original number, on 1/31/2006. Here it is at Pueblo, on 6/30/2006, patched as UP No. 1350. This locomotive later received a full repaint. Here is a contemporary photo, in Grand Junction (April 2014).
	No. 3101, in California circa 2000. Note that it has retained its full light package, with the addition of the pilot-mounted ditch lights. Photo by Duane Simmons.
	GP40-2 3103 leading GP40 3052 and two more geeps on a westbound fast freight at Glenwood Springs on Nov. 8, 1981. This was before the pedestrian bridge was built, and I was standing on a very narrow sidewalk with my back to traffic while I took this photo. See a simultaneous photo from ground level here. This unit was renumbered to UP 1356 in January 2005.
	No. 3105, near the sand dump track in Denver North Yard. That’s 3100 coupled on behind (trust me). It has post-merger mods, particularly the Mars light removal and the addition of ditch lights. So many things I would do differently if I could go back to that drizzly afternoon… (9/19/1999) NEW IMAGE
	Here’s another terrible photo of No. 3105. I had climbed partway up a chain-link fence and poked my camera over so I could even get this shot (surprised the loco was even in the frame, so I should be thankful I guess). I’m unsure of the date but it could be 11/24/2000. This loco defied my efforts to get a non-blurry photo of it! Note that the side of the cab is painted gray for some reason. NEW IMAGE
	GP40-2 3106 was an early repaint into UP colors after the merger. Here it’s switching Grand Junction yard (no longer a hump yard now) in August 1998, wearing its new paint and number (UP 5260).
	Top: No. 3109 in the Grand Junction yard on 3/07/2002. Photos from the following day appear on my Locals page and in the Detail Photos section. Middle: Same date, from the opposite side. Also nice to see the two Espee tunnel motors present (even if one was now wearing Armour Yellow…) Bottom: GP40-2 Nos. 3118 and 3109 on the “Minturn Local”, hustling east past Cameo with a string of covered hoppers late on October 10, 2000. It was a rare and pleasant thing to see a train under all-Rio Grande power by this date. The 3118 had been rather heavily tagged sometime earlier (note the graffiti). No. 3109 was a complete repaint to UP 1364 in August 2005.
	Nos. 3111 and 3117: the West Helper on a CSDPU train. The two GP40-2s apply dynamic braking on the rear of the train as it crosses Coal Creek canyon on April 8th 1984. The West Helper (set) would often ride a heavy eastbound train down the mountain for braking, then return light or with another train to Tabernash. Note the red class light on 3111. No. 3111 was renumbered to UP 1363 in August 2005, and No. 3117 became UP 1368 October of that same year.
	No. 3113, working the central valley in Cali sometime around 1999. Duane Simmons photo. Patched to UP 1365 in 2001, and fully repainted in 2005.
	No. 3114, showing some post-merger modifications (e.g. the horn has been moved; the class lights are plated over). The paint is still in remarkably good shape, however. Photo courtesy David Standen. NEW IMAGE Renumbered to UP 1367 in 2005.
	No. 3116 (along with GP40 No. 3077) leads the eastbound Railblazer overnight piggyback train on the last leg of its trip from Salt Lake to Denver, on Christmas Eve morning, 1988. This hot overnight TOFC train kept the rails warm between Denver and Salt Lake for the latter half of the 1980’s. It was the ultimate short fast piggyback train…
	I have a LOT of photos of No. 3118. Here’s a representative selection. Top photo: It sits on the readyline with the rest of the power for the Alamosa local, in the yard at Pueblo (9/19/1999). It’s been modified with a beacon (courtesy of the SPL era), the horns have been moved to the long hood (judging by the color, they were later replaced by UP), and ditch lights have been added. But, the low nose lights are still there. The opposite side of the unit has been heavily vandalized by taggers. Middle photo: The 3118 was patched to UP 1359 on 9/15/2005. Here it is in Grand Junction on July 1st, 2006. Bottom Photo: The now- UP 1359 is parked at North Yard on 9/01/2008, coupled with DRGW alumnus UP 1348 (ex-DRGW 3126) and UP 1534, ex- SP 7299. Note 1359 still has the complete light package in place, though no word on whether they all work.
	No. 3119, shown in Pueblo with four mates, early 1990. I’ve left it zoomed out so you can see the foundations of the roundhouse at left– turntable still intact– and the other features around the readyline. Photo courtesy of David Standen. NEW IMAGE It was renumbered to UP 1370 in December 2000.
	No. 3120, I believe at Roseville, circa 2000. Duane Simmons photo. It was patched to UP 1343 in August 2002.
	No. 3121, two views from March 7, 2003. Top: Left flank view as the 3121 leads a train from Antonito northbound through La Jara, CO. Bottom: Photo from earlier that same day in Alamosa. Note the interesting writing on the plate covering the opening where the Pyle lights were removed. In these photos you can see the modifications to the locomotive done during the SPL era, including: addition of tall ditch lights, relocation of horn, change of number board style. The signal lights were removed after the UP merger. The 3121 was patched as UP 1344 around 2005, and fully repainted in late 2011. Still active as of 2021. When repainted she gained an AC on the roof and a new plow, but not much else changed.
	No. 3123 — On the Ski Train in January 1982 at Crescent, CO. Notice the dent in the fuel tank. The 3123 was renumbered (patched) as UP 1346 on Aug 10th, 2001.
	No. 3124, in California circa 2000. Duane Simmons photo. Repainted as UP 5247 in December 1997, assigned UP 1347 later.
	No. 3125, at Grand Junction in 1990. Photo courtesy of David Standen. NEW IMAGE Sold by UP in 1998 to EMD.
	Top Photo: No. 3126 at Grand Junction on 8/03/98. Notice an unusual feature: ditch lights on the rear as well as the front. These are installed on locomotives that are used predominately in local service, where running long-hood-forward frequently can be expected. Their location above the deckline indicates an SP-era modification. Bottom Photo: The 3126 was renumbered (patched) as UP 1348 on April 27th, 2005. Here she is seen parked next to the North Yard tower on 9/01/2008. All lights are still in place, and she looks pretty good for a 34-year-old lady.
	No. 3127 is the trailing unit on the westbound Ski Train, approaching tunnel 1 in early 1983.
	No. 3128 — The highest-numbered “standard” GP40-2, still at work in Alamosa on March 7, 2003. The 3128 was renumbered to UP 1349 in May 2005 and fully repainted later. Still active in 2021.
	GP40-2 No. 3129 — One of the last two GP40-2’s delivered to the Rio Grande. Top: here it is working the West Local (Rocky) on 3/26/2002. It has some features in common with GP50’s. Bottom: The following November it’s gone over to Grand Junction. Here it’s parked by the yard tower awaiting its next job. NEW IMAGE The 3129 was renumbered to UP 1445 in November 2005.
	GP40-2 No. 3130 — The other of the last two GP40-2’s delivered, here it leads a westbound manifest on 12/24/1988. It’s exiting tunnel 1; you can barely make out the nose of #3131 in the tunnel. The shot of #3051 above is of the same train. It has some GP50-style features. The 3130 was renumbered to UP 1446 in March 2003.

Top of Page	GP30-GP35s	GP40s	GP40-2s
GP60s
No. Range	Date Acqd.	Comments
3154 – 3156	May 1990	Built to Cotton Belt specs. Built to replace three units (D&RGW 3108, 5402, and 5408) wrecked on Tennessee Pass in February 1989.
	Top: No. 3154 sits on the Pueblo ready line, May 16, 1999. The white reflective stripes, applied only to this unit, are clearly visible. Rumored that the El Paso shops did this. What were they thinking? Center: Another look at No. 3154, in Denver on a misty Sunday morn– Sept. 19, 1999. She’s on the leg of the wye on the west side of North Yard. Bottom: No. 3154 is on the point of the Ski Train on 12/28/2000, seen here after unloading at Winter Park. This was the first season of service for the newly-painted F40PH’s, but No. 242 was having mechanical problems. So, No. 3154 got the call to substitute on the train. Yes, it was great to look out the window and see a Rio Grande motor on the head end! The 3154 was patched to UP 1900 on 1/25/02. In 2018 renumbered to UP 1168.
	No. 3155 — leading unit of a pair of GP60’s, with the Ski Train at Plainview (1/04/1997). At some point her anticlimber was repainted black, instead of gold like the rest of the fleet. This probably happened after she was in a wreck in Spanish Fork Canyon, UT, in 1992. Bottom: The 3155 was patched to UP 1901 on 1/25/02. Here it’s seen at Pueblo on 6/30/2006. Notice the odd patching features here, notably the gray background on the rear number. There’s also a white sticker on the flank that says “UP 1901”. UPDATED IMAGE Stayed in Grande paint until repainted and renumbered to 1081 in 2016.
	No. 3156 — the trailing unit of a pair of GP60’s, with the Ski Train at Plainview (1/04/1997). The DRGW GP60s were used commonly on the Ski Train during the 96-97 season, making for an all- Rio Grande passenger train (in the era of UP ownership, more’s the irony). The 3156 was repainted as UP #5702 on 5/11/98, and renumbered 1902 on 1/05/2001. Still active at last report.
	Nos. 3154 and 3155 — nearly four years later, the two remaining sisters rest between assignments on the ready line at North Yard, Denver after dusk on 11/24/2000. UPDATED IMAGE
	Beat the Train? Nope. “(AP) Colorado State Trooper Bill Judy investigates the scene of a fatal train-truck crash about 10 miles south of Fountain, Colo., Monday. A man from Pueblo, Colo., was killed when his truck collided with the Rio Grande train.” – Article from December 1996, where the MDVPU (Denver-Pueblo) daily freight powered by all three Rio Grande GP60’s was involved in this unfortunate incident.
To be clear, I don’t include the Ski Train’s three F40PH locomotives as Rio Grande units. Despite the paint scheme, the historical connection to the D&RGW, and the fact that they actually wore a Rio Grande herald on the flank, they were bought and painted many years after the D&RGW had ceased to be– and were owned by Ansco. That all being said, they were certainly a nice tribute. Kudos to Sean Flannery for advocating for that scheme.