On Tuesday, Ogden City announced in a press release that Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 223, which has been statically held by the Museums at Union Station, will be going back to Colorado with the recently formed 223 Locomotive Foundation next year to begin a process that will return it to operational status and eventually place it in the collection of the Colorado Railroad Museum.

“One of three surviving C-16 locomotives and the last surviving narrow-gauge Grant-built locomotive, D&RGW C-16 #223 was manufactured in 1881 and served the D&RGW lines in Colorado and New Mexico throughout its working life,” the release said. “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.”

After a lengthy process which involved public meetings, inventorying all of the parts of the locomotive, consultations with narrow-gauge railroad experts and other institutions, a plan began to come together to ensure the locomotive’s future.

“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 #223 as a purpose-created 501(c)3 non-profit,” the press release said. “They are fundraising for an operational restoration of #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 #223’s permanent home will be at the Colorado Railroad Museum, which hosts operating narrow-gauge tracks in Golden, CO and tours locomotives throughout Colorado.”

Photo supplied, Museums at Union Station

Hope Eggett, museum administrator for the Museums at Union Station said the decision was about finding the best scenario for the locomotive.

“We set out to understand and implement the best possible future for this locomotive,” she said in the release. “I truly believe we’ve accomplished this. 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.”

She added that credit is due to those who have kept the locomotive in shape for preservation over the years.

“We are deeply grateful to previous stewards of the No. 223 for preserving this locomotive, especially the Golden Spike Chapter of the National Railway and Locomotive Historical Society,” she said.

In recognition of these efforts, according to the press release, 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.

Photo supplied, Hope Eggett, Museums at Union Station

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski told the Standard-Examiner on Wednesday that the city has a responsibility for the historic artifacts in its care.

“That is a nationally significant artifact,” he said. “It’s here in Ogden right now and we have a responsibility to steward that and, in that case, to put it in the hands of people that can make the best use of it.

He said that Utah simply lacks one of the biggest infrastructure needs for the locomotive to operate in the state.

“They want to return it to operation,” he said. “That requires narrow-gauge rail. We don’t have any of that here, even in Utah, I don’t think. Colorado has narrow-gauge, so we needed to find a partner that will take it to its ultimate use that has the infrastructure.”

Nadolski said this is evidence that partnerships between the city and other entities are not only beneficial but necessary to further historical preservation.

“All of the things that are here are so significant to the national story and the state story that we can’t do this alone anymore,” he said. “We’ve seen the result of us doing it by ourselves, and I’m trying to change the paradigm to be this is about all kinds of partnerships.”

223 Locomotive Foundation President Jimmy Booth said said this is an exciting time for the locomotive.

“After so many years of being a static artifact, we will now be able to move forward in making the No. 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,” he said.

Plans are to move the locomotive from Ogden to Colorado in 2026 in celebration of the state’s 150th anniversary of statehood. According to the 223 Locomotive Foundation’s website, restoration is anticipated to take around three years after which time, agreements will be sought with heritage railroads such as the Durango & Silverton Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for operation of the locomotive.

For more information on the 223 Locomotive Foundation, visit https://www.223locomotivefoundation.org.