by Carol McDermott

Ridgway, Colorado [Fall 2001]

Ouray County Railroad Days at the Ridgway Railroad Museum September 21-23, 2001 will celebrate the restoration of more than a movie set railcar. It will commemorate the renewal of interest as well as the commitment of funds and time to an aspect of the western Colorado county’s history, which dates back to 1887, when the first Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG) train arrived in Ouray.

The boxcar used in the motion picture “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” arrived at the museum in July, a gift from Marvin L. Conrad of Bayfield, Colo. Yet another artifact with a Hollywood connection, it joined the paddy wagon from True Grit, which resides in Heritage Park at the east edge of town.

Ridgway, named for railroad superintendent Robert M. Ridgway, was organized as a railhead in 1891 to serve the mining districts of Ouray and Telluride. The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was born in Ridgway. When the mines switched to trucks, the railroad depended more on hauling coal, lumber, livestock and the mail. That only provided a respite for the railway, as the last mail run was in 1949, and that was done by a “Galloping Goose,” the motorized railbus brought in service in 1931. 

The last Rio Grande Southern (RGS) train came to Ridgway on December 27, 1951. The last steam powered passenger run, from Ridgway to Pandora on RGS No. 74, occurred September 1-2, 1951. Today, only five RGS locomotives can be found: at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, at the Durango & Silverton Railroad, in Boulder at city park, and at California’s Knott’s Berry Farm, which has two. 

Now the railroad has returned, due to the efforts of Karl Schaeffer, Gregory Posta, and other railroad enthusiasts who have organized the Ridgway Railroad Museum. Schaeffer built a “Galloping Goose” to complement the three railcars, old depot outbuilding (outhouse and coal shed), and three other rail vehicles on display outside.
 

Posta, museum president, is heading efforts to raise $25,000 for the purchase, from the South Park City museum, of Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) caboose No. 0585, which was built in 1900. 

Located at the intersection of US 550 and Colo. 62 at the Visitor’s Center and Chamber of Commerce building, the Ridgway Railroad Museum is not yet three years old. In addition to the outdoor pieces, the museum features a large scale trestle diorama, model trains, old photos, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia. 

“We are committed to quality and authenticity in all our endeavors,” reads the museum mission statement. “Most importantly, we will try to match the affection towards our railroad legacy shared by millions of people with our interest in making sure that visitors ... enjoy their experience and will help us in our efforts to remember the men and machines of Ouray County.” 

Ouray County Railroad Days will start with a variety show at the Sherbino Theater in Ouray. It will showcase music, poetry, and tales of railroading in the San Juans. On Saturday, demonstrations will be held at the museum and the hobby shop will display antique lanterns. Sunday will feature a guided historical tour from Ridgway to Trout Lake on the RGS right of way. 

“This first railroad celebration is going to be an educational event for the community,” said Jim Pettengill, who writes the museum’s newsletter. 

Although, except in video excerpts, museum visitors won’t see the mounted posse leap from the boxcar, trying to corral Butch and his Hole in the Wall gang who just blew a safe to rob the train, they will learn something about Ouray County and Ridgway’s railroad heritage.

Visit the Ridgway Railroad Museum's website: www.ridgwayrailroadmuseum.org.