This is an actual model of K37 (No 498) a three foot gauge prototypes of the Denver and Rio Grande
system. It was built to a scale of 2 inches to the foot (one sixth scale), compared to the one eighth
scale for a 7¼ inch gauge model of a standard gauge locomotive.
This plus five other steam locomotives and four diesels, all scale models of American locos and built
from the original drawings, belonged to the Southern family at Dobwalls Adventure Park, Cornwall, England.
After 35 years and some 7 million passengers the last train ran at the end of the summer season in 2007.
At that time the family were undecided as to the future of the railway. The following year while talking
with Malcolm Southern as he showed me the changes he was making to the park he did tell me that they
had decided to sell everything to do with the railway. His and the families greatest wish was that the
whole collection would be keep together but he admitted that with a price tag of around £300,000 per loco
they were not hopeful.
Photographed 19th September 2001.
© Adrian D. Smith. Plymouth, England. #(fotosvanadrian@blueyonder.co.uk)