A historic locomotive on loan with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad broke down Tuesday morning north of Durango, leaving nearly 100 passengers stranded.

Christian Robbins, spokesman for D&SNG, said as of 2 p.m. the train remained stranded with passengers on board near Shalona Bridge. He said crews were working to fix the locomotive, and it may require a tow from another engine to bring it back to town.

The locomotive is not one from D&SNG’s fleet. Instead, it is the Southern Pacific 4-6-0 No. 18, more commonly known as the SP-18, a train revered by railroad aficionados, Robbins said.

“To have it out here, there’s something special about that,” he said.

It appeared the locomotive blew a cylinder Tuesday morning on the way to Cascade Station.

The SP-18 is a 1911 Baldwin that was used by the Southern Pacific in California until about 1960, according to Trains.com.

Robbins said the locomotive arrived in Durango this winter. The reasons D&SNG brought in the train are twofold. For one, many people over the years have requested D&SNG bring the locomotive to Durango. And two, it will allow railroad crews to practice with oil-fired steam power.

The D&SNG is converting one of its coal-fired locomotives to run on oil to be used in times of high wildfire danger.

Robbins said the SP-18 will likely be in Durango through the summer.

jromeo@durangoherald.com