RIO GRANDE SOUTHERN - Hardcover

UNKNOWN

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0911581626 ISBN 13: 9780911581621

Publisher: Heimburger House Publishing Company, 2011

Synopsis

Looks at the Rio Grande Southern (RGS), the 172-mile narrow gauge route that wrapped itself around the craggy and forested San Juan Mountains between Durango and Ridgway, Colorado. This book relates humorous insights about hunting season on the line, the Montezuma Lumber Company operations at McPhee, and the last runs of the famed RGS trains.

About this title

About the Author

Robert W. Richardson

From the Inside Flap

In Volume III of Bob Richardson's Chasing the Narrow Gauge trilogy, he takes a close look at the Rio Grande Southern, the 172-mile narrow gauge route that wrapped itself around the craggy and forested San Juan Mountains between Durango and Ridgway, Colorado. Otto Mears built his railroad in just two years, which climbed four mountain passes and featured 142 bridges that included numerous high, spindly trestles.In this 224-page hardbound book, Bob hones in on the town of Ridgway, the various RGS “oasis” towns in the wilderness, mine-rich Telluride, the RGS' locomotive fleet, the Galloping Goose era and high-in-the-sky Ophir. He also talks about important old RGS records and how he obtained copies, relates humorous insights about hunting season on the line, the Montezuma Lumber Company operations at McPhee that lasted until 1948, and the last runs of the famed RGS trains.In 14 chapters, Bob captures Engine #455 in his lens, the 1903-built D&RG engine that was the heaviest RGS motive power, he describes the derelict state of the yards at Ridgway as the railroad ran out of steam, and he ponders the downward fate of Rico in 1951 as a once-thriving mining town. Vance Junction, Dallas Divide and Placerville are afforded their share of glory as well in this authoritative volume.The Galloping Goose Era deserves a special chapter as the author intrigues and delights us with memorabilia and photographs from their daily 102-mile trips (Ridgway-Dolores) over the line. Nothing much happened to them on a daily basis, but when it did...it was noteworthy!

Edition details

• Publisher: Heimburger House Publishing Company
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0911581626
• ISBN 13: 9780911581621
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224