A Long Tradition
This issue of the Rail Report continues the long tradition of this newsletter, originally published by the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, while embracing a renewed mission and a broader perspective on railroading, past and present. Now produced by the Colorado Railroad Museum, the newsletter carries that legacy forward by connecting longtime Rocky Club members and new readers alike with updates on railroad history, preservation efforts, and today’s railroading landscape across the United States.
Each issue highlights a blend of Rocky Mountain Railroad Club history, preservation and restoration developments, and current rail news, along with progress on Museum projects.
If you have received this email as a forward from someone else, please click here to continue receiving the Rail Report monthly. And if you know of someone who might be interested, please forward and share!
We’re delighted to continue this long tradition with a new look and feel. All aboard!
Paul Hammond Dave Schaaf
Executive Director Rail Report Editor
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Restoration Updates
Colorado Railroad Museum shop crews have been busy with numerous restoration projects. Notably, crews have been hard at work re-lettering both Denver & Rio Grande Western No. 491's cab and tender as well as Rio Grande FA-Unit No. 5771 and its B-Unit No. 5762.
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Above: Here's an action shot of the single stripe paint scheme from 1979, the same look that the locomotive was recently restored to. Here, 5771 pulls the eastbound Rio Grande Zephyr near milepost 676 in the Red Narrows of Utah, July 1979. Photo by James Belmont.
Below: The newly repainted and re-lettered F-Units sit in their iconic spot on the Museum grounds in March 2026. Photo by Dusty Thomson.
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The lettering style previously worn by D&RGW No. 491, seen in the 2024 photo above, has been replaced with the Rio Grande speed lettering shown in the March 2026 view below. Photos CRRM Collection.
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Rail Watch
Highlights and regional happenings.
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Egyptian National Railways has ordered 50 units from Progress Rail of model JT42ACe locomotives. The first one was lettered EMDX 3001 and moved by BNSF to the ENSCO operated Transportation Technology Center near Avondale, Colorado, March 12, 2026. These units have a 710 engine, meet USA EPA Tier 3 emissions, and are rated 3000 horsepower. Maximum speed rated as 89 MPH (140 KPH). Photo by Chip.
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CSXT 1981 Pan Am Railways heritage unit near Tolland, Colorado, March 23, 2026. This westbound Union Pacific train had 209 cars and was 11,500 feet long. The empty coal train was bound for the West Elk Mine in Colorado. Photo by Chip.
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Amtrak’s westbound California Zephyr crossed the Colorado River near Burns, Colorado, on March 14, 2026. The train was led by P42DC No. 176 in the Phase VII scheme and No. 203 in the Operation Lifesaver colors as it traveled toward Glenwood Springs on the Dotsero Cutoff. Photo by Chip.
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Rocky Mountain Rail Preservation
Preserving RGS history in RGS country, part 2 of 2
By John Bush
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Last month, part 1 of this article detailed the history of the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the work it has done to preserve Rio Grande Southern history. The following is part 2 of the list of equipment the group has acquired in the last 26 years.
D&RGW No. 702: drop bottom gondola, purchased from the Durango & Silverton. No. 702 is operational.
Business car C: This car was acquired by donation from the Cross Orchards Museum in Clifton. The goal is to restore it to its appearance as used in 1881. The car had been gutted before it got to the Cross Orchards museum. It is currently being used as a display place for photos and tool storage. It is protected from the weather under a canopy.
D&RGW No. 1020: This high-side gondola was purchased from the Como project. It has been set up to be a rider gondola.
RGS Motor No. 4: Galloping Goose 4 belongs to the Telluride Volunteer Fire Department. The Ridgway Railroad Museum took on the restoration to operating condition of this Goose in 2008. The rebuild was completed in 2012. It is in Ridgway and operates on the loop of track laid down by the volunteers there. No. 4 gives the opportunity to ride a Goose in the town where they were born. A wonderful experience.
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RGS inspection car No. 1: The re-creation of this Model T based inspection car started as the personal project of a man from Woodland Park. When he was unable to continue, it was acquired by the museum in “kit” form and was completed to operating condition. It is a splendid example of a time when the railroad was a much better environment for internal combustion vehicles than the primitive roads were.
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RGS Coach No. 252: This car was built by Jackson and Sharp in 1880 as the D&RG ‘Gothic’, sold to Otto Mears and lettered Rio Grande Southern 252 in 1891. It was used on the daily passenger train between Ridgway and Durango until 1932, when the passenger trains were replaced with ‘Motors’. It carried 48 passengers in flip over ‘Buntin’ seats. It had a bathroom, two kerosene lamps and one (later two) coal stoves. After traffic declined to the point RGS could not justify separate cars, it had a center partition installed so that it had smoking and ladies' sections. It was finished with varnished ash paneling and a white ceiling with kerosene lamps. After the RGS was scrapped, it was sold to Bob and Connie Schaeffer for $150. They spent another $300 getting it moved from Dallas Divide to a lot on the south side of Trout Lake. It was the Schaeffer family cabin for about 9 years until sold. It was subsequently sold again to Don Shank and moved to Durango in about 2000. Later it was moved to Monte Vista, Colorado. It was later traded to the Willamette Valley Railroad in about 2014. The Schaeffer family bought it in 2016, donated it to the Ridgway Railroad Museum, and it was moved to Ridgway on May 23, 2016. It has been fully restored for operation behind the Museum's future steam locomotive (see note following) when it arrives. It has a Miller Hook coupler on the south end, as it was equipped when new. It got Janney couplers (which it now has on the north end) when the railroad converted to knuckle couplers in 1903. Roughly 5000 hours have gone into the restoration.
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In addition to the equipment listed above, the museum has contracted to have a replica of RGS No. 36 re-created as an operational locomotive to be used in Ridgway when completed.
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In 2015/2016 the museum's volunteer group took on the project of re-creating the Guston Depot, platform, and about 40 feet of track. The track has been rebuilt using original 30lb rail that had been used by local mines when the Silverton Railroad was upgraded to 45lb rail in 1904.
“In 2016 we received a tremendous donation in the form of a forever lease on the RGS/DRG Ridgway Depot and about 7 acres of the pasture to the north of the Depot. We then built our half-mile railroad, a train shed and some yard tracks. We moved all our equipment to the new facility and started one then two days per week free rides during the summer using Galloping Goose 4, Motor 1, Inspection car No. 1 (Model T) and the caboose (pulled with a 10 ton Plymouth)”. (Karl Schaeffer)
The long-term problem in all such organizations is recruiting new blood. A small proportion of the 13,000 or so people that the Museum serves each year help by donating money and an even smaller proportion become volunteers. Once in a great while, one of these volunteers becomes an effective leader. “Our hope is that we will get a lot more volunteers when we get our steam engine. RGS No. 36 is a re-creation of the smallest engine that Otto Mears bought for the RGS. The RGS 36 is about 90% done and will be a huge addition to our operation as we will be able to pull our restored coach RGS No. 252 or freight trains as we wish around the loop for rides”.
Vision for the future:
1. Find more volunteers
2. Finish RGS No. 36 which is funded
3. Build re-creation of first Ridgway roundhouse which is also funded
4. Build turntable which is not funded
5. Move into Depot, contingent on other organizations
6. Build up musuem's endowment to provide investment income to pay for operating expenses such as taxes, utilities, insurance, fuel for the locomotive and eventually salary for a paid director when the right person can be found.
This year there is a scheduled work session June 1-5. Those interested in being involved should contact Hale Houts at (248) 807-8613.
Railroad Days will occur on the weekend of September 26-27. It will include a hike into Corkscrew Gulch as well as operations at the museum and the opportunity for self guided tours of locations along the RGS.
The website can be visited at ridgwayrailroadmuseum.org
Special thanks to Karl Schaeffer for helping bring this story to fruition. Any mistakes and errors however are mine alone. - John Bush
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A bit of Rocky Mountain Railroad Club History
By Jim Ehernberger
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Beginning on June 24, 1972, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club sponsored a one-day excursion over the Black Hills Central Railroad. Our train operated over the 46.5-mile segment of the Burlington Northern track from Hill City to Deadwood, S.D. 176 passengers made this trip consisting of tank engine 104 (2-6-2T), and although it seemed small, it handled the five-car consist easily. Originally the trip was planned to operate over the Keystone Branch from Hill City, but a portion of that track was washed out. This portion of the Edgemont to Deadwood Burlington Branch was very scenic, operating over 3% grades and passing through four tunnels en route.
The Club operated three additional special trains over this railroad in following years, and by 1975, some 275 passengers had participated. Passengers were required to provide their own transportation to Hill City, along with meals and overnight accommodations. David P. Morgan, long-time editor of Trains magazine was among them in 1975. The water stop at Mystic, S.D., was delayed quite some time while attempting to pump water from a nearby stream due to its faulty condition. Also, during this final year that we operated the special train, passengers were permitted to ride over the 15-mile segment between Hill City and Custer on the following day by showing their ticket if they so desired.
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Black Hills Central engine No. 104, a 2-6-2(T) type on the Club’s June 24, 1972 excursion at Mystic, S.D. The train consisted of five cars, and since the line is within the heart of the Black Hills, it is quite scenic with steep grades, numerous trestles, and four tunnels. R. H. Kindig Photo/James L. Ehernberger Collection.
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Upcoming Rail Events
On April 11-12, 2026 The Rocky Mountain Train Show returns to Denver's National Western Stock Show Complex. The event features more than 115 vendors, major model‑train manufacturers, museum and historical‑society exhibits, and 29 operating layouts in scales ranging from Z to G. Children 12 and under are admitted free and can participate in hands‑on activities throughout the weekend. CLICK HERE for tickets and more info.
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Content contributions this month from Chip Sherman, James Belmont
John Bush, and Jim Ehernberger.
Editorial assistance from Paul Hammond and Maddie Schaaf.
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| Thanks to our generous Sponsors & Partners
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