Since we have completed our 2800-foot operations loop track and have all of our rolling stock and train shed moved to the new location at 200 N. Railroad St downtown (with our indoor photo and artifact exhibits remaining at the fairgrounds visitor center location until the end of 2020), we are concentrating on preservation, restoration and operation in 2019. Our big project is to try to get RGS coach 252 operational by the end of the year. The interior probably won't be finished, but the running gear, etc will be complete to allow use in a train on our site. We are doing windows now. We also plan to do lots of repainting, build additional grade crossings on our loop, and complete a loading/unloading lead that will eventually access a recreation of the original RGS roundhouse (this is a major project for the future). As a result our 2019 schedule is as follows:
1) Plan to operate our recreation of Motor 1 for the public on approximately 12 or so Saturdays this summer, schedule to be posted on our website (ridgwayrailroadmuseum.org)
2) Work week is scheduled for June 3 - 7, with principal projects being the 252, painting railcars and finishing the loading track, with lunches and drinks provided. With the train shed move complete, we have shade this year! Watch the website for details. The more volunteers we get, the more work gets done.
3) Instead of our traditional Railroad Days weekend in late September, this year we are cooperating with a local group of organizations who are putting on an Old West weekend October 11 - 13, focusing on the 50th anniversary of the release of the original John Wayne classic True Grit, which was filmed in 1968 in and around Ridgway. Alongside their event, we are organizing our first Gathering Of The Flock. We hope to have at least two Galloping Geese on site for public rides that entire weekend ( in addition to Motor 1). There will also be three railroad history lectures, an open house of Don Paulson's RGS/D&RG based model railroad, probably the D&RG Ouray Branch auto tour, and other railroad events. Again, watch the website for details.
More info on these events will be posted here and on the website as details become available. The principals in the RGS 36 locomotive project are also hopeful that it will arrive sometime in late summer. This will be a good year to visit Ridgway, we hope to see many of you here.
