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. In this edition, the Museum is especially excited to share updates on Rio Grande Southern No. 20, which has pulled trains in Durango this past month for the first time since 1951, a remarkable milestone in Colorado railroad preservation.
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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Volunteer Opportunity
- The Colorado Railroad Museum will hold a Volunteer Fair this coming Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will learn about volunteer opportunities, meet team members, and sign up for volunteer orientation classes. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age, and preferably, interested in working with the public, including children and families. The Museum is looking for outgoing people who love to share and work with others and will adhere to general volunteer safety standards and codes of conduct.
The Museum proudly features a team of nearly 300 volunteers who participate in railroad operation and maintenance, educational programs, special events staffing, enhancing the visitor experience and many other unique roles. Volunteers enjoy a number of fun and exciting opportunities. Help run large events like Day Out with Thomas™ and THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Work behind the scenes on new exhibits, inspire school kids to learn about railroad history, and educate visitors through unique offerings including turntable demonstrations, diesel locomotive simulations, crafts, and interpretive stations.
No prior railroad experience is necessary. Volunteers attend orientation classes and receive on-the-job training, then go on to help visitors have fun while learning about Colorado’s fascinating railroad history. To learn more about volunteering and/or to sign up as a volunteer, please visit www.ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org/Volunteers, or contact Volunteer Manager Anna Holdeman at anna@crrm.org or by calling 720-274-5141. All Aboard!
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Rail Watch
Highlights and regional happenings.
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Rio Grande Southern (RGS) Engine No. 20 is seen along the big curve of the high line. Both the locomotive and caboose No. 0404 in this consist are part of the Colorado Railroad Museum's collection and will return to its Golden campus in the coming weeks. Photo courtesy of Jeff Taylor.
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Recently restored Rio Grande Southern caboose No. 0404 photographed at the big curve along the highline, near Rockwood. January 30, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Maddie Schaaf.
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RGS No. 20 steams along the High Bridge between Tacoma and Rockwood, Colorado. February 19, 2026. Photo courtesy of Dusty Thomson.
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Rio Grande Southern No. 20 leads its train into the Durango depot for passenger boarding. The locomotive was visiting from the Colorado Railroad Museum as seen on the morning of January 31, 2026. Photo courtesy of Dave Schaaf
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Former Florida East Coast No. 148 is an Alco 4-6-2, built in 1920. This locomotive was stored out-of-service in Monte Vista, Colorado, for about ten years. It was hoped that it would run in tourist service on the former D&RGW line to Creede, but that did not happen.
It left the San Luis Valley in 2016, and is now owned by U.S. Sugar, who restored this engine at Clewiston, Florida, between 2016 and 2020. She now steams around southern Florida at places like Moore Haven, as seen on January 18, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Chip Sherman.
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At left, above -- the eastbound California Zephyr is led by Amtrak No. 176. On the right is the Winter Park Express that had arrived about a half an hour early. Both are sitting at Denver Union Station on the snowy evening of January 25, 2026.
Photo courtesy of Chip Sherman.
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This diesel-electric Colorado Pacific unit was idling in the yard at Alamosa, Colorado, on January 31, 2026. It had previously been on the roster with BNSF Railway.
Photo courtesy of Dave Schaaf
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Rocky Mountain Rail Preservation
Preserving RGS history in RGS country part 1 of 2
By John Bush
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Like many ventures and adventures, Otto Mears' Rio Grande Southern (RGS) Railroad has entered into the romantic constellation of lost causes like the Spartans defending the pass at Thermopylae, or the “Charge of the Light Brigade” during the Crimean War. The RGS was conceived and built during the rush for mineral wealth brought on by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. After it was repealed in 1893, the railroad battled on through the collapse of the mines, World War One, the Great Depression, and World War Two. It finally gave up the ghost in November of 1951 after 61 years of struggle against nature, the development of improved roads, and a changing economy.
The Rio Grande Southern has secured a place in the mythology of the west far larger than any role it actually played in the development of resource extraction in the Rocky Mountains. Major published works include the 12-volume “The RGS Story” by Collman & McCoy, “Silver San Juan: The Rio Grande Southern Railroad” by Mallory Hope Ferrell, “The Rio Grande Southern Railroad” by Josie Moore Crum, and “Rio Grande Southern: An Ultimate Pictorial Study” by Richard Dorman. In addition, more focused works like “Narrow Gauge Pictorial, Volume 1: Rio Grande Southern and D&RGW Motive Power” by Robert L. Grandt, "History & Restoration of Galloping Goose #4" by Ridgway Railroad Museum (RRM) volunteers, Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle by RRM volunteers, and “Galloping Geese on the Rio Grande Southern: Tin Feathers and Gasoline Fumes” By Stanley Rhine, have also been written.
Beginning almost as soon as the last rail was removed in 1953, people have dreamed and schemed about rebuilding a portion of this line. None of the talk bore fruit until 1998. Ann Hoffman of the Ouray County Historical Society hosted a meeting about the role that the railroad had played in Ridgway history. Karl Schaeffer and a group of others attended that meeting.
They started the museum in 1999 with 6 people. Their mission is to preserve and educate about the railroad history of the area with emphasis on the RGS, D&RG Ouray Branch, and the Silverton RR. “Our vision was to emphasize the RGS motors/geese since they were conceived and built in Ridgway, Colorado. They are what is unique about Ridgway. Of the original seven, six survived but we did not see any chance of getting any of them.” (Karl Schaeffer) Karl decided to re-create the one missing machine (Motor 1) and completed that in 2000. The group worked a deal with the town of Ridgway and Chamber of Commerce to use a portion of the Visitors Center grounds as a museum. In 2000 they moved in, built a little track, acquired a stock car and started building their museum. One of their guiding principles is that the museum and services (later rides) are all free to the public. With careful cost controls, and generous donors, they have been able to maintain this philosophy. The Ridgway Railroad Museum is an incorporated, all-volunteer, educational entity with 501(c)(3) status.
The following is part 1 of the list of equipment the group has acquired in the last 26 years. Stay tuned for part 2.
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RGS Motor No. 1: This is a re-creation of the original Motor built by the RGS to protect the mail contract. Karl Schaeffer purchased a 1926 Buick from a farmer’s field in Montana to recreate the only Motor that did not survive until the scrapping of the railroad. It was built over the fall and winter of 1999/2000. It has run at the Colorado Railroad Museum, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
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Denver & Rio Grande (D&RG) Caboose No. 91/Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) Caboose No. 0575: was the first project taken on by the group. In 2001, the Ouray County Historical Society funded the restoration of this caboose. It had been on display in Ouray but had deteriorated badly. It is now on display in Ridgway, one side is painted and lettered to represent its original appearance as D&RG No. 91. It is now in operational condition.
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Boxcar D&RG No. 3130: was acquired from private hands in Colona (between Montrose & Ridgway). It has been equipped with trucks and brake gear. It is cosmetically restored.
D&RGW Stock car No. 5574: Purchased from a private owner in Oklahoma and moved to Ridgway in 2001. This car was the first piece of equipment acquired. One end sill has been replaced; the car has been painted and lettered.
D&RGW Outfit car No. 04914: This car was purchased from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It has been re-roofed and has a link & pin coupler pocket on one end. It is cosmetically restored and stored under cover.
Much of this information comes from the assistance of Karl Shaeffer. This article is to be continued in the next issue.
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A bit of Rocky Mountain Railroad Club History
By Jim Ehernberger
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The future for the Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge lines did not look good after World War Two. The Black Canyon line was abandoned in 1949. The Valley Line was next in 1951. The famous San Juan passenger train was discontinued on January 31, 1951. The railroad had applied to abandon the Silverton Branch, but that was turned down.
While it was still possible, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club only had one main route remaining to operate narrow gauge excursion trips, and that was between Alamosa and Durango, plus the Silverton or Farmington Branches. Beginning on May 30, 1952, a two-day special operated only on the Alamosa to Durango segment, with a fare of $12.00. The returning train was held at Osier for several hours due to a freight train derailment, resulting in a late arrival into Alamosa. On October 25, 1952, only an Alamosa to Chama trip was operated, and that fare was just $6.00.
After 1952 a variety of Club trips were operated out of Alamosa. The first Memorial Weekend excursion was operated on May 29, 30 and 31 of 1954, with a ticket cost of $18.00 for adults. Passengers preferred this weekend, and it remained that way on up through May 28, 29 and 30 of 1966, and by then the fare was higher, now at $21.00. Three days over nearly 500 miles of narrow gauge trackage for only $7 each day! WOW!
The Rio Grande advised the Club in February of 1967 they would no longer operate any narrow gauge excursion trips. In fact, the railroad was in the process of seeking abandonment of the line from Alamosa to Durango and the Farmington Branch. The Silverton Branch would continue to operate during the summer tourist season only.
The final freight runs took place during the summer of 1968, and the trackage was removed west of Chama, New Mexico. A “save the narrow gauge” group was formed and the segment between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, was acquired by those states, and continues in operation today (as the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad) during the summer and fall.
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The Club’s first Alamosa to Silverton excursion train is shown at Chama, New Mexico, on May 29, 1954, during the servicing and lunch stop. The fare was $18 for the trip. Some 300 passengers were on board and the railroad provided spare cabooses to increase seating capacity. Business car B-7 (now named General W. J. Palmer) was just ahead of the cabooses. On this trip, locomotive No. 487 handled the train on the line between Alamosa and Durango. From Durango, a U.S. Army diesel served as a helper with road engine No. 476 to Silverton. On the return movement at Chama, engine No. 492 assisted No. 487 to the top of Cumbres Pass.
Photo by R. H. Kindig, James L. Ehernberger Collection.
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The Silverton Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western was operated during the entire decade of the 1970s. The Club ‘attempted’ to operate a trip on September 6, 1970, but Mother Nature took over, and the railroad was washed out and impassible. It was a sad time, since passengers had already traveled to Durango expecting another great excursion. The Club provided refunds immediately, along with a letter explaining additional details. On this date, the first train had operated down Cumbres Pass over the newly formed Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad behind engine No. 483.
With the new operation out of Chama, on September 4, 1971, the Club chartered a train from Chama, over Cumbres Pass to the Big Horn siding and wye, and returned. Locomotive No. 483 was the motive power, and the fare was $15.00.
In addition, on September 5, 1971, the final Denver & Rio Grande Western narrow gauge excursion train was operated between Durango and Silverton and return. The locomotive No. 478 handled the train, and the fare was $10.00.
The popularity thereafter and support for special movements declined, both with Club members and the public. Since railfans could go at their own convenience, it didn't make much sense for the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club to try to run special trips there.
The Silverton Branch was sold to a Florida businessman in 1981, and that is another story for the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club’s history.
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Engine No. 478 takes water at the Needleton tank on September 5, 1971. Photo courtesy of James L. Ehernberger.
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This month, February, what we know as America's, Colorado's, and Amtrak's Ski Train is 90 years old. The first one was operated by the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad on February 9, 1936. It ran in three sections because 2,200 passengers were riding from Denver to Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado. Winter Park ski area didn't open until January 1940, and it became the train's new endpoint, as the facility at HSS was falling into disrepair. Quite a long "Denver tradition."
- Steve Patterson
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Ski train westbound near Pinecliff, March 25, 1984. 1984 was the only year Denver & Rio Grande Wester F unit No. 5771 and B unit mates were on the ski train.
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Westbound ski train exiting Tunnel 5. The negative with the date of photo could not be found.
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Eastbound back to Denver, at Crescent siding, March 20, 1983.
Three photos above courtesy of Steve Patterson.
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Content contributions this month from Chip Sherman,
John Bush, Jim Ehernberger, Steve Patterson and Dave Schaaf.
Editorial assistance from Paul Hammond and Maddie Schaaf.
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| Thanks to our generous Sponsors & Partners
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