129 D&RGS Shenandoah ~ Chasing the Rails

First in a series of caches called "Chasing the Rails" of The Rio Grande Southern Railroad.

Log ONLY bring a sharp pencil. PLEASE Replace how you found it or better if left out. Thank You!

MUGGLERS are around checkin' their mail.

You will be parked at a gate entrance, if any one ask what you are doing.

You are "Chasing the Rails" of The Rio Grande Southern Railroad of course.

Be sure and twist the log tight and place in the cap then put the bottom on, this will keep the log from getting wet again..

Standing in the driveway at the gate you are on the old RR bed, you can see it in both directions from here, it crosses Wild Cat Canyon Rd near the Shenandoah entrance, comes past where you are standing and then winds it's way up thru Shenandoah and over the top at Pine Ridge and doubles back to Hesperus. You will pass by the following Benchmarks between Durango Station and here: HL0234 in Wild Cat and HL0235 near Rafter J, as you round the turn at Shenandoah you can see the bed on your left going West. Also between HL0235 and the new CR 211 intersection you can see the bed in the medow.

View this image that was taken near the area of CR 141 and CR 125 (Old Hesperus Hill Road) and the Shenandoah entrance some where around 1951. Click to VIEW Image! This is just as you round the corner at 125 and 141 across from the Shenandoah enterance.

Taken the day the cache was placed...

Some YouTube Clips I Found.. From the Cab of the Gallaping Goose and the Galloping Goose Running the Track Near Durango, Co

Be sure and check out the WILDCAT RGS VIEW and A Funny Way to Ride the Rails #2 while chasing the rails. These are the caches that got me onto the idea of Chasing the Rails. The WILDCAT RGS VIEW cache is near Porter, where there was a coal mine and small town. The bed can be seen in places from Porter back down the canyon to 160 where the trestle crossed Lightner Creek at what was then Franklin.

The Rio Grande Southern was one of the most spectacular narrow gauge railroads in the world. It provided heavy transportation service for the west side of the San Juan mountains and traveled through spectacular scenery that, prior to the railroad, was only accessible by the most determined traveler using horses, wagons, or even basic foot power.

The Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) ran from Durango to Ridgway in the western part of the US state of Colorado. Its right of way can be traced by going west from Durango to Mancos, then to Dolores, north across Lizard Head Pass (10,222') to Placerville, with the final leg to Ridgway.

The route passed over Dallas Divide west of Ridgway and over Lizard Head Pass north of Rico. The most famous structure on the route was the Ophir Loop near Ophir. At this point the railroad was built up a narrow mountain valley and looped back up the other side to gain elevation over several tall trestles.

The RGS filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission for abandonment on 24 April 1952.

Details for Benchmark at this location: Benchmark HL0236

*** Other Benchmarks in the area: HM0341 and HM0342, both in the Shenandoah neighborhood and most are on private property. Take a drive up to Bell Cir and there you are on the old rail bed headed for Pine Ridge Bend.

This page shows Remnants of the Rio Grande Southern Out Along The Line that are still standing.

Next Stop, Old Hesperus Hill. ALL Aboarrrrrrd!!!!! ......
or Durango Station, Under Construction.

Be sure and check out the WILDCAT RGS VIEW and A Funny Way to Ride the Rails #2 while chasing the rails.

Also see The Rio Grande Southern Railroad - History and Time Lines.

FTF was YotaCacher w/ kingbee