The Rio Grande Southern (RGS) managed to build a steep, twisting, 162 mile route west and south out of Ridgway through Placerville, Ophir, Rico, Delores, and into Durango (with a short branch into Telluride and Pandora) thereby connecting with the Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) at both ends.

At Ridgway the RGS connected with the D&RGW which had a short branch running 10.3 miles south to the Ouray depot and north to Montrose. From Montrose D&RGW's narrow gauge line ran east over the Cimarron Canyon trestle along the Black Canyon of the Gunnison route to Salida, and Pueblo, then north to Colorado Springs and Denver. The remains of the steel bridge over the Cimarron River, it was originally a wooden trestle, now supports D&RGW locomotive number 278. In July 2010 the engine, tender, boxcar, and caboose were removed from the bridge for cosmetic restoration by the National Parks Service. Further to the east the Gunnison Pioneer Museum displays Cinderella, D&RGW locomotive number 268.

At Durango the RGS connected with the D&RGW running their passenger trains right into the D&RGW's depot at the center of town.