D&RGW 2-8-0 223 at Ogden Union Station

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This page was last updated on October 28, 2025.

D&RGW Narrow-Gauge 2-8-0 No. 223

Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad narrow-gauge 2-8-0 locomotive number 223 is the sole surviving engine built by the Grant Locomotive Works. It operated in Utah between 1881 (when it was built) until 1890, when the D&RGW tracks in Utah were changed from narrow, three-foot gauge to standard, 4 feet 8-1/2 inches gauge. Number 223 remained in service on Rio Grande's other three-foot gauge routes in Colorado until its retirement in 1940. D&RGW loaned the locomotive to the people of Salt Lake City as part of the city's Pioneer Day celebration on July 24, 1941, and after participating in the parade down Main Street (mounted on a highway trailer), it was placed on display in Liberty Park. It was formally donated to the city in 1952. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 25, 1941; November 6, 1986)

D&RGW 223 was donated to Salt Lake City on June 26, 1952. From 1941 until 1952, the locomotive was owned by D&RGW and was on loan to the city. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 22, 1952; Deseret News, June 26, 1952)

The locomotive's resting place in the park was needed for a new children's playground. The Utah State Division of History accepted it with intentions of displaying it at the former Salt Lake City Union Station of D&RGW and Western Pacific, the future home of the Utah State Historical Society.

To allow the adjacent children's playground in Liberty Park to be updated and expanded, D&RGW 223 was gifted by Salt Lake City to the Utah State Division of History on Thursday January 11, 1979, in a ceremony that included Governor Scott M. Matheson. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 9, 1979)

The locomotive remained at Liberty Park, near the carousel, until March 27, 1980, when it was gingerly lifted from its resting place of 28 years onto a heavy-duty flatbed trailer and moved across town to a new location west of the former Rio Grande station. There the little locomotive sat for 12 years, suffering from varying degrees of bureaucratic and budgetary concern and neglect. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 28, 1980)

After many proposals were floated to either restore the locomotive or sell it to other interested groups, in June 1989, the State History Office consulted with a professional restoration specialist on possible alternatives. Costs varied from $88,000 for simple stabilization for continued display to $1 million to make Number 223 fully operational. A public meeting was held on December 7, 1989, seeking input for the locomotive's disposition. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 6, 1989)

Due mostly to lack of funding from the state legislature, the 223 project languished until 1991. In the meantime, the museum at Ogden Union Station was designated by the Legislature as the Utah State Railroad Museum. D&RGW 223 was given to the Utah State Railroad Museum and moved to Ogden Union Station in 1992. D&RGW 223 was moved by truck from Salt Lake City to Ogden on September 26, 1992.

At that time efforts were begun by the Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society to restore the little locomotive, possibly to operating condition.

The following came from John Manion, via an email dated April 1, 2012:

In early 1941, Salt Lake City had asked the D&RGW about getting a locomotive and some cars to display there. D&RGW leased no. 223 to Salt Lake City, and it was moved on a flatbed trailer in a Pioneer Days parade on July 24, 1941. The engine was placed in Liberty Park in a ceremony that same day. D&RGW also donated high-side gondola no. 1051, boxcar no. 3576, and short caboose no. 0573, but they were displayed at Pioneer Village in Salt Lake City, created by the Sons of Utah Pioneers to exhibit 19th Century Utah history. For a number of years, the cars were displayed at Lagoon Amusement Park, midway between Ogden and Salt Lake, but they were not well maintained. Number 223 remained in Liberty Park for almost 29 years, and ownership was transferred to the city in 1952. In 1980, no. 223 was lifted onto a flatbed trailer and moved to D&RGW's Salt Lake Union Station. The building was to become the location of the Utah State Historical Society. During the move, the mainframe and left side main rod were badly bent by incorrect lifting.

Number 223 remained at this location unprotected and badly deteriorated due to weather and vandalism. Most of the wood pieces rotted, and metal parts rusted badly. No efforts were made to restore or protect no. 223, despite plans to do so, and the neglect sadly continued the damage of this historic locomotive. In 1991, the Utah legislature selected Ogden Union Station as the site for the Utah State Railroad Museum. On September 26, 1992, no. 223 was moved by truck to Ogden. Number 223, and the boxcar, gondola, and caboose no. 0573, having been moved from Lagoon Amusement Park, were parked along the Shupe-Williams Candy Company factory at that time. During that year, the Golden Spike Chapter of R&LHS adopted no. 223 and began planning for her badly-needed restoration. Wooden parts needed to be replaced, but the cab and tender were so badly corroded that they would both have to be completely replaced. The engine received a new steel boiler in 1914, but her display outdoors with her stack not capped had taken its toll on the boiler and smokebox. Plans to restore no. 223 for operation will require considerable effort and funding.

Number 223's bad luck continued on March 11, 2006, when fire of a suspicious origin broke out in the Shupe-Williams Candy Company factory, a 1905 building which had not been in use for some time. Efforts to keep the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings kept firefighters from dealing with the threat in the immediate factory area. Caboose #0573 was destroyed in the blaze, boxcar no. 3576 was seriously damaged, and gondola no. 1051 had one end seriously damaged. The damaged cars were subsequently bulldozed for scrapping, and nothing remained but some metal parts. Damage to no. 223 was minimized, as the cab, pilot, and tender underframe had already been removed from it for restoration. The surviving metal parts of the cars went to the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad in California, the Colorado Railroad Museum, and the Cumbres & Toltec.

D&RGW 223 To Colorado

Colorado Railroad Museum -- BREAKING NEWS:

D&RGW #223 to Be Restored to Operation in Colorado with Landmark Partnership

October 28, 2025 - Ogden City, the 223 Locomotive Foundation, and the Colorado Railroad Museum are excited to announce a plan to restore Denver & Rio Grande Western steam locomotive No. 223 to operational status to operate for the public.

One of three surviving C-16 locomotives and the last surviving narrow-gauge Grant-built locomotive, D&RGW C-16 No. 223 was manufactured in 1881 and served on D&RGW lines in Colorado and New Mexico throughout its working life. After being located in Ogden for over 30 years, ownership of the locomotive was officially transferred to Ogden City in February 2024 from the Utah Historical Society. Since then, city staff have been undergoing vigorous analysis as to the future of the locomotive with the goal of determining the best future for this historic engine.

During this process, Ogden City solicited expert opinions, examined partnership capabilities, and invited public comment. The City hired narrow-gauge locomotive expert John Bush to complete a full inventory of the 223's component parts over the course of 6 months, which was facilitated with funding from the Narrow Gauge Preservation Foundation connected by board president Jimmy Booth. At the same time, the City solicited written and verbal consultations with over a dozen relevant individuals and organizations; additionally, the City hosted a community town hall meeting and survey. Based on relevant feedback and capabilities, priorities for No. 223's envisioned future included a return to operational status with full FRA approval, as well as a focus on operating the engine in its historic homelands in Colorado.

Based on united goals to preserve railroading history and honor this engine, Ogden City has completed negotiations with partner organizations. The 223 Locomotive Foundation will take ownership of D&RGW No. 223 as a purpose-created 501(c)3 non-profit. They are fundraising for an operational restoration of No. 223. Once restored, the engine will visit Colorado's narrow-gauge railroads pulling public excursion trains. Within 10 years of achieving operational status, the D&RGW No. 223's permanent home will be at the Colorado Railroad Museum, which hosts operating narrow-gauge tracks at its Golden campus and occasionally tours locomotives throughout Colorado.

223 Locomotive Foundation president Jimmy Booth said "After so many years of being a static artifact, we will now be able to move forward in making the #223 a piece of living history to educate current and future generations on how narrow gauge railroading built the communities of the Rockies, along with the development of steam locomotives."

"We set out to understand and implement the best possible future for this locomotive. I truly believe we've accomplished this," said Hope Eggett, museum administrator for the Museums at Union Station. "With this plan, generations will be able to experience Rocky Mountain railroading, reflecting the priorities and desires of both the narrow-gauge community and the Utah State Railroad Museum." No. 223 will be returning to Colorado in recognition of Colorado's 150th anniversary of statehood in 2026, celebrating the role of the railroad in the state's creation.

"We are deeply grateful to previous stewards of No. 223 for preserving this locomotive, especially the Golden Spike Chapter of the National Railway and Locomotive Historical Society," Eggett said. In recognition for their contributions, members of the Golden Spike Chapter and Ogden City residents will receive discounted fares on future train rides and will be recognized in a plaque on the locomotive.

More about the 223 Locomotive Foundation can be found at 223locomotivefoundation.org. The founding board of directors includes Jimmy Booth, president, Ray Bjerrum, treasurer, and Jeff Taylor, secretary.

More about the Colorado Railroad Museum can be found at coloradorailroadmuseum.org.

Equipment Roster

Ogden Union Station Equipment -- Roster listings of the equipment at Ogden Union Station. Includes links to Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society.

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