Description

Volume 1, Number 2 — M. Keith Williams, Editor
(Published Q2‑2002, 34 pages)

Volume 1, Number 2 continues the inaugural year of The Prospector with a rich blend of equipment history, locomotive features, operational photography, and historical research. Edited by M. Keith Williams, this issue expands the magazine’s early commitment to detailed prototype documentation and high‑quality modeling resources.

Featured Articles

• D&RGW GS Gondolas — Jim Eager A comprehensive history of the Rio Grande’s ten series of steel GS gondolas built between 1908 and 1954—more than 8,251 cars in total. Eager traces the evolution of each class, from the earliest 36‑foot 50‑ton cars to the massive 70‑ton General American gons of the 1950s. The article includes mechanical notes, service assignments, color and lettering details, and modeling guidance, making it an essential reference for anyone modeling the Rio Grande before the era of unit coal trains. (This issue also includes the first installment of the D&RGW Encyclopedia, featuring official folio sheets that supplement this article.)
• Remnants of the Rio Grande: The South Local — Frank Keller A photographic and narrative look at the Denver‑area “South Local,” one of the last assignments still operating with Rio Grande power nearly three years after the UP merger. Keller follows the train from Denver’s North Yard south along the Joint Line, documenting switching work, surviving D&RGW GP40‑2s, and the day‑to‑day character of local freight operations in the early 2000s.
• Ore Loading on the Narrow Gauge — Bob Webber A historical overview of ore‑loading practices on the narrow‑gauge system, illustrated with period photographs. Webber explains how mines, mills, and loading facilities handled ore, and how these practices shaped car design, train makeup, and operations across the D&RGW’s mountain districts.
• One of a Kind: GP35 No. 3048 — Lou DiGrazia A profile of the Rio Grande’s uniquely modified GP35, No. 3048. DiGrazia details the locomotive’s mechanical differences, service history, and distinctive appearance, explaining why this unit stood apart from the rest of the GP35 fleet and became a favorite among photographers and modelers.
• How the Judge Saved the Rio Grande — Ron Jensen A historical narrative recounting the pivotal legal and financial decisions that kept the Rio Grande alive during one of its most precarious eras. Jensen highlights the role of Judge Walter H. Sanborn and the court actions that prevented liquidation, ultimately allowing the railroad to survive and rebuild.
• D&RG / RGW Locomotive Renumbering, 1908 — Herbert S. Edwards A detailed examination of the 1908 renumbering that unified the Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande Western locomotive rosters. Edwards explains the logic behind the new numbering system, the classes affected, and the operational and administrative reasons for the change—valuable information for historians and steam‑era modelers.
• A Rickety Old Depot Just Wouldn’t Die — Willa Soncarty The story of the Glenwood Springs depot and its unlikely survival. Soncarty traces the building’s history, deterioration, and eventual preservation, illustrating how community interest and historical value helped save one of the Rio Grande’s most recognizable structures.

This issue is an essential addition for anyone building a complete personal archive of Prospector volumes, offering deep prototype research, locomotive and equipment history, and rare operational photography from the early 2000s.