The storied locomotive will once again be starting a new chapter of its life with new ownership. After gaining full control and ownership of Denver & Rio Grande Western #223 earlier this year, the Utah State Historical Society (USHS) has turned over the locomotive to the city of Ogden, Utah. The USHS has owned #223 since 1979, up until the papers were signed on October 26, 2023.
The locomotive and the city are no strangers to each other. #223 is currently stored in Ogden at Union Station, where it is in pieces awaiting restoration. This is where the locomotive had been previously worked on by the Golden Spike Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society while under USHS ownership. Those restoration efforts stalled in 2019 ended when the city prevented the chapter from accessing the locomotive due to liability and ownership concerns.
City officials state that they plan to resume restoration effort. Ogden’s Union Station turns 100 years old in 2024, though it remains to be seen if #223 will play any role in the significant date or what the long-term plans for the locomotive are.
The C-16 Locomotive Society group continues to aim to help move the future of #223 forward. They advocate for the three remaining D&RGW C-16 type locomotives: #223, #268 and #278. You can learn more about them here.
Photo from Don Hinchliffe on RRPictureArchives
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