Ridgway Colorado USA - Guided hikes, demonstrations, and presentations will provide plenty of opportunities for rail fans and history buffs to learn about, and to experience, the railroad heritage of the San Juan Mountains.
 
The Sixth Annual Ouray County Railroad Days and Narrow Gauge Symposium is presented by the Ridgway Railroad Museum Thursday to Sunday, 13-16 Sep 2007, as an educational event that celebrates Ouray County's world famous railroad history with a variety of events that appeal to the serious rail buff as well as residents with an interest in the unique history of the area.
 
The weekend kicks-off on Thursday and Friday with guided hikes along the route of Otto Mears' Silverton Railroad, from Red Mountain Pass to the Albany townsite below Ironton.
 
Thursday's route will go from the top of the pass to the Guston townsite.
 
Friday's route will continue from Guston to Albany.
 
Trip leader Don Paulson advises that these downhill hikes require some bushwhacking, so participants should wear long pants, bring lunch, and weather gear, and be in good shape.
 
Meet by 10:00 Thursday and Friday at the Corkscrew Gulch four-wheel drive trailhead, 7.8 miles south of Ouray on U.S. Highway 550.
 
Even though the Silverton Railroad was abandoned in 1922, there is still a lot to see, including the Corkscrew turntable and all the sidings and wyes.
 
Participation is $10 per hiker per day, or $15 for both days.
 
The guided hike is free to members of either the Ridgway Railroad Museum or the Ouray County Historical Society.
 
For information, call Paulson at 325-0931.
 
Saturday the museum (located at the corner of highways 550 and 62) hosts an open house from 09:00 to 16:00, including demonstrations of RGS Motor 1 in the morning on the half hour.
 
Saturday will also feature the Narrow Gauge Symposium at the Ridgway Town Hall from 12:30 to 16:00.
 
This series of talks will include restoration of the Ouray Caboose 0575, passenger service on the narrow gauge, and the Rio Grande Zephyr.
 
At 19:00 there will be an evening of history talk on "Rails to Ouray", also at the town hall.
 
The weekend will conclude on Sunday, 16 Sep 2007, with guided tours of the routes of the Ouray Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande and Rio Grande Southern.
 
These will be car caravans with short talks by museum staff at selected viewpoints.
 
The RGS trip will leave the museum at 09:30 and return by 16:00, and the Ouray trip will leave at 10:30.
 
Trips are limited to a maximum of eight cars, so pre-registration is encouraged.
 
For information about the Sixth Annual Ouray County Railroad Days and Narrow Gauge Symposium, call 626-4239 or 626-4373.
 
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