Denver & Rio Grande
The great Denver & Rio Grande Western
Rugged railroad action, spectacular vistas, mostly narrow gauge!
Over Lizard Head Pass
Over Lizard Head Pass
Ride the last steam passenger trains of the Rio Grande Southern and experience the world of real narrow gauge, amid the breath-taking peaks of southwest Colorado.
First new release of 2015!
In 1932 the Rio Grande Southern stopped running passenger trains. After that date the Rocky Mountain RR Club ran three steam excursions and Charlie Ryland, the club president, filmed two of them. His friend Ed Hailey, who organized the trips, edited his footage into this film. On Memorial Day 1947, the first trip departed from Ridgway to Dolores over Lizard Head Pass and returned the following day. The second trip in 1949 ran from Ridgway to Telluride where it tied up for the night. The following day it continued on to Lizard Head, reversed direction, and returned to Ridgway. Photographed on board and from trackside, capturing all the mountain mining towns: Ridgway, Placerville, Vance Junction, Telluride, Ophir, Lizard Head and Dolores. A wonderful memory of mountain railroading with ancient passenger cars. Closes with footage of the fabled “galloping goose” rail-bus cars.
40 minutes
"Galloping Goose" and Telluride photos by John B. West