Robert Richardson's Rio Grande Southern, Volume III: Chasing the Narrow Gauge

In this third volume of his narrow gauge chronicle, noted narrow gauge preservationist Robert Richardson continues to take 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. In just two years, Otto Mears built a railroad that climbed four mountain passes and featured 142 bridges, including 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, and the last runs of the famed RGS trains.