Photo by A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
About Ridgway Railroad Museum
Free museum dedicated to Rio Grande Southern history; gives rides on Motor No. 1 and Galloping Goose No. 4 on summer Saturdays.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Railroad museum
- Location
- CO
- Rating
- 4.6 ★ 67 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Ridgway Railroad Museum. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Hours
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
History
See full history
The Ridgway Railroad Museum is a free museum devoted to the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, the legendary 3-foot narrow gauge line that Otto Mears built between Durango and Ridgway and operated from 1891 through 1951. Ridgway itself began as a railroad town: it was the RGS's northern terminus and railhead serving the mining towns of Telluride and Ouray, named for Denver and Rio Grande superintendent Robert M. Ridgway, who established it in 1891. The town's railroad shops also gave the world the famous Galloping Geese — all seven of the RGS's celebrated motor railcars were built there, beginning in 1931 with a unit fashioned from a Buick "Master Six" sedan body. The museum keeps that legacy alive on wheels: when Goose No. 1 (scrapped in 1933) survived only in photographs, the museum built an operational replica in 2000, and Goose No. 4, long a static display in Telluride, was restored to operation in Ridgway as of June 2012. The museum gives rides on Motor No. 1 and Galloping Goose No. 4 on summer Saturdays.
Around the Depot
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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