The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is converting one of its coal-fired engines to oil burning to run during dry weather conditions.
Al Harper, left, owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Randy Babcock, mechanical foreman, talk about the laborious process of converting a coal burning locomotive to an oil burning one. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Randy Babcock, mechanical foreman with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, is leading the conversion of a locomotive from coal burning to oil burning. The change would allow the engine to run safely in dry weather conditions. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Randy Babcock, mechanical foreman with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and his team have a self-imposed deadline to convert the 1902 boiler made for coal to be able to burn oil by May 1, the start of the next train season. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Randy Babcock, mechanical foreman with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, is leading the conversion of a locomotive from coal burning to oil burning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The inside of the fire box of a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad locomotive that is being converted from coal burning to oil burning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is converting a coal burning locomotive to oil burning. The conversion will allow the railroad to use the locomotive safely during dry weather conditions. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
At the roundhouse in Durango, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is converting a coal burning locomotive to oil burning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The conversion of a locomotive from coal burning to oil burning will allow the railroad to use the locomotive safely during dry weather conditions. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Al Harper, center, owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Matt Cunningham, executive assistant to the general manager, right, and Randy Babcock, mechanical foreman, talk about the laborious process of converting a coal burning locomotive to an oil burning one at the railroad’s roundhouse. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
