I also love these locomotives and consider them the quintessential narrow gauge steamer, but I wouldn't consider the C-16 elusive at all. Just about any book that covers the early period of the D&RG or RGS will have a lot of information. One of the best sources I can think of is Volume 12 of "The RGS Story" which focuses on RGS rolling stock - most of which were C-16s in the early days. One thing to keep in mind is that they weren't called C-16s until after the 1924 reclassification - prior to that the Rio Grande system (the D&RG in Colorado and the D&RGW/RGW in Utah, as well as all of the associated shortlines) referred to these engines as Class 60, based on their 60,000lb weight. The very slightly smaller Class 56 engines were essentially identical except for having slightly smaller cylinders and weighing a bit less.

Other books with a lot of information about engines of this type include Sundance's "Uintah Pictorial Vol. I," most any of "The RGS Story" series, LaMassena's "Rio Grande to the Pacific," and - probably my personal favorite - "The Rainbow Route," about the 3 shortlines that ran north from Silverton, all of which used Class 60s or 56s. There are also a number of photos of them in Richard Dorman's series of books, and Ferrell's RGS classic, "Silver San Juan."

There's a good amount of information online as well. Here is a list of the Rio Grande Class 60s: http://www.drgw.net/info/C-16 . You can also find a lot more detailed information about specific locomotives in the lists found here: http://www.drgw.org/data/steam/roster.htm , listed by railroad.

Good luck!

Thanks for the response and all the great information! I have ordered The Rainbow Route and Silver San Juan so those will help out very much! I would like to order RGS Story Vol 12 but they are a little pricey so I will have to wait a little while. Such a good looking locomotive!

Yeah, I have noticed that Volume 12 has been going for very high prices on eBay lately, but I managed to pick up a copy from Caboose Hobbies for right around list price ($60-70 or so) not too long ago. Take a look over there possibly. Glad to help and I think you'll enjoy those books - I haven't gotten into Silver San Juan in quite some time, but I think the Class 60s (and 56s) are the star locomotives of "The Rainbow Route."

The Precision Scale loco catalog could be a good source of ideas and conversion parts. I believe they took over the old Kemtron line, which had an old time kit and several parts. I think modeler Jim Ellis did a conversion of the Broadway

limited C-16 into an old timer several years ago.

Reg Barron

I just got my HO scale PSC catalog and there a lot of parts available. I would like to have an HOn3 scale version. I would like to but the AMS 2-8-0 as pictured above but I would like it in On3 and it sounds like we are still waiting for those.

Black stone has an HOn3 C-19, that is an old time version, and pretty close to the one in the picture.

The C-19 (Class 70 in earlier D&RG parlance, or 10-26E in Baldwin-speak) is about 10000lbs heavier than the C-16 (Class 60) and has noticeably different driver spacing, but they are pretty similar otherwise. In terms of overall proportions and aesthetics, I think they're equally appealing and the Blackstone is a great starting place for modeling an early one. The latest HOn3 Annual has an article on backdating the Blackstones to a more prototypically correct early appearance.