Steam Locomotive Information

Here are the notes for Denver & Rio Grande Western RR No. 223, a 2-8-0 located in Ogden, UT. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.

Posted: Oct 28, 2025 @ 12:10:12 by Richard Hood
Ogden City and the Colorado Railroad Museum have entered into an agreement today for the Colorado Railroad Museum to rebuild Denver and Rio Grande C-16-class narrow-gauge Consolidation #223, one of only three of its class to survive and the only surviving Grant-built narrow-gauge engine, to operation. Plans call for it to visit several Colorado narrow-gauge tourist lines and then for it to become a permanent operating engine at the Colorado Railroad Museum ten years after it returns to operational status.

Posted: Oct 28, 2023 @ 10:10:03 by Jacob Lyman
As of October 28, 2023 per the front page of the Standard Examiner, ownership has been transferred from the State of Utah to Ogden City. Ogden City expresses a desire to "resume restoration" but I am cautiously suggesting to "wait and see" if they actually can resume restoration. Until then I would suggest updating the ownership of the locomotive, and maybe listing its status as "Stored" until Ogden commits to restoration or not.

Posted: Apr 2, 2021 @ 12:04:14 by Keiji Muramoto
Up until around late 2018, the restoration of D&RGW No. 223 had been making slow but steady progress. Around that time, the city of Ogden, Utah, locked the volunteers involved in the project out of the shops, which prevented them from making further progress. Fast-forward to 2021, and according to a comment made in a thread in the Narrow Gauge Railroad Discussion Forum, John Bush from the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad confirmed that he is currently working on getting No. 223 relocated to the C&TS for restoration and operation, if possible.

Posted: May 27, 2013 @ 20:05:49 by Jacob Lyman
I got the chance to see this restoration on National Train Day 2013. Our guide told us the tender is nearing completion. The guide said once the tender is done, work starts on repairing the boiler and the running gear. Once the engine is done there are hopes to build a short 36" gauge demonstration track at the museum, and the engine could visit Durango or Chama once it is operational.

Posted: Jun 24, 2012 @ 19:06:54 by Erik
Because there are no longer any 36" railroads in utah, what will the museum do with this little engine if they can get it in working order?

Posted: Mar 28, 2008 @ 19:03:10 by James F.
There is a movie on youtube that you can watch now that tells all about this locomotive and what the restoration society is working on and wanting to do. It's really neat! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL2sd8klX8Q

Posted: Sep 20, 2006 @ 20:09:05 by stuart olson
was recently involved in an arson fire engin undamaged but acompaning equipment was destroyed

Posted: Feb 19, 2006 @ 20:02:40 by peter m. preston
This is one difficult Grant locomotive to finish restoring. The original tender tank is so far gone that a new one had to be constructed, at a great cost. The locomotive itself is in poor shape after having been on display outdoors since 1941 with wet asbestos under the bolier jacket. There is also a problem in that the City of Salt Lake construction crews that move No. 223 from Liberty Park to the Utah State Historical Society in 1979 bent the frame and rods (so badly that the drive wheels will no longer turns, even with the rods disconnected).

Posted: Dec 11, 2004 @ 23:12:00 by Stephen
The restoration of the 223 as of Dec. 1, 2004 The Locomotive Cab is almost finished with the cab assembled and awaiting sealing and painting.

Posted: Sep 5, 2002 @ 11:09:17 by Jeff Terry
Location should be changed to "Utah State Railroad Museum;" Status should be changed to "Restoration"


Denver & Rio Grande Western RR 2-8-0 No. 223 Ogden, Utah, United States	Location: Utah State Railroad Museum Status: Stored