"Rebuilt" is a very subjective term. In the case of the 9, the engine had a full life long ago, receiving a lot of crappy repair work along the way, done by railroad shops. It was basically "used up," and sitting on a pedestal for decades in the weather didn't make it any better. A hurry-up resto job with some questionable workmanship followed CHS's desire to get any steam engine running quickly in an effort to save face.

As for the 2-6-2, it is also the victim of shoddy work done in years past, by a contractor than no longer exists. It's too small and too light for the work, but here again, CHS's bull headedness got this thing into service long before it was ready, and with defects waiting to rise up and bite them, which it did.

CHS has long been a waster of Coloradoan's tax money.