Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 478 is the third surviving member of the ten-locomotive K-28 class built by ALCO in 1923.
The locomotive shared the class’s major passenger and freight assignments across the narrow-gauge system.
No. 478 survived World War II because it remained on the Rio Grande while seven K-28 sisters were transferred away and later scrapped.
It continued on the Silverton branch and passed to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad with the route in 1981.
Unlike 473, which remained heavily used, and 476, which returned after a long rebuild, 478 spent recent years out of service and displayed in the Durango Roundhouse Museum.
Durango & Silverton reported that 478 last operated in April 2016 before entering its museum period.
In 2023 the railroad announced plans for a full return-to-service project beginning in 2024.
The project includes the federally required inspection and boiler work as well as conversion from coal to oil firing.
Once returned, 478 is intended to join the active K-28 fleet rather than remain a static artifact.
For TransitSatellite, its status must be dated. Historic “operating” photos do not prove it is operating at the present moment, while museum photos do not imply permanent retirement.