Finally, we can go officially public. Sorry about the delays, we had to get everything legally complete before issuing a formal statement. Today the Ridgway Railroad Museum and Ouray County Ranch History Museum issued this joint press release:
"NEW RIDGWAY MUSEUM CAMPUS TO INCLUDE RANCH HISTORY AND RAILROAD MUSEUMS
The owners of two parcels of property that include the historic Ridgway Railroad depot and the adjacent pasture to the north have supported the establishment of a Museum Campus to house the Ouray County Ranch History Museum (OCRHM) and Ridgway Railroad Museum (RRM) under leases entered into with both museums. The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, believe this will be a significant facility to preserve Ridgway's heritage. The museums will display and demonstrate various aspects of life in Ridgway starting from 1891. Both museums have missions to provide education and preservation of local history and this new Museum Campus will be a showcase to accomplish those missions and attract visitors to the center of town. This project will happen in several phases.
In phase one, the OCRHM has facilitated the purchase of the historic depot from the Mitchell family, who called it home for over 50 years after purchasing it from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in the 1960's. OCRHM has already completed moving their displays and artifacts from their prior location in the Colona schoolhouse to the depot building. In fact, the Ranch History Museum opened to the public in June of last year and will remain open on a seasonal basis and by appointment for off season and group tours in the winter.
In phase two, the RRM is building a 1/2 mile loop of track for operation of its steam train and Motor 1 (the prototype of what came ot be called the Galloping Geese). When complete, the RRM vision is to operate and give scheduled rides on the steam train and Motor 1. Motor 1 will also operate for school groups and elder hostel tours by appointment. As usual, RRM plans to give rides and provide other services free to the public. The RRM will also move its train shed and outdoor displays from the current location near the fairgrounds to the pasture just north of the depot. This work will take place over the coming year.
OCRHM is in the early stages of planning and fund raising to design and build a new Ranch Museum complex in the north end of the same pasture, to the north of Charles Street. This project could take several years.
In phase three, the OCRHM will move into their new facilities and the RRM will then move its indoor displays from the current location in to the depot.
To make all this happen, both museums will need a lot of help. If you can help either museum with volunteerism, contributions or expertise, please contact them at 970-316-1085 (OCRHM) or 970-318-0322 (RRM)."
Jim's comment: We began construction of the loop track in November, and because this freakish winter has given us very little snow, we have made great progress. The loop is fully graded, 90% ballasted, 90 % of the new ties are in place, and about 80% of the rail has been moved into position on the ties. All necessary track material has been purchased, and about 1000 feet of track is already spiked in position. Foundation for the new location of the train shed has been poured. We expect completion of the train shed relocation by late spring and will be moving our rolling stock through the summer. We hope to have the loop completed in 2018, and hope to get the steam locomotive on site this summer - train shed relocation and the track connecting to the main loop have to be completed first so we don't have to move it twice. This is a lot of work, but our volunteer crew of about 5 people per session has been working two to three mornings per week since November first, and progress has been very good. We hope to get a LOT of track completed during our work week June 4 - 8.
We will post progress reports here as warranted.
