Fourth 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.
Thank You!
PLEASE don't park on the hwy close to the cache it is to
dangerous.There is a very nice safe pull out at the top of the hill
where you will be parked on the old bed near the old town of
Cima.
If any one ask what you are doing. You are "Chasing the Rails"
of The Rio Grande Southern Railroad of course.
Standing at the cache you are on the old rail bed, looking
downhill to the East toward Hesperus Station you can see to bed, if
you walk downhill you can zero out on Benchmark
HM0050. From where you are the tracks climbed the hill to the
top just West of you and then went in above Montoya's place, back
into the hills from there, holding the same elevation almost to the
top of Mancos Hill. From Mancos Hill you can drive the old bed
almost back to here.
Some YouTube Clips I Found.. From the Cab of the
Gallaping Goose and the Galloping Goose
Running the Track Near Durango, Co
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 near this location: Benchmark
HM0050
This page shows Remnants of the Rio
Grande Southern Out Along The Line that are still standing.
Next Stop,
Mancos Hill.... ALL Aboarrrrrrd!!!!!.....
or
Hesperus Station.... ALL Aboarrrrrrd!!!!!.....
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 Br_Eyez
410 D&RGS Cima/Montoya's ~ Chasing the Rails
| Difficulty: 
| Terrain: 
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