Rio Grande Southern: Stock Train

Moving stock on western railroads has always been big business and no less on the narrow gauge. When a large block was to be moved off the Rio Grande Southern to market the RGS and the D&RGW worked to move the stock with in the time set by law. Law was animals could not be in the cars for more than 24 hours, the shipper could make 30 hours at his risk. When the move was to be made the railroads had it set up so the cars would go from loading to trans-shipping point in this time.

A block of stock cars loaded at Rico would moved to Ridgeway. The train would have right of way over all other trains. At Ridgeway the cars would be turned over to the D&RGW and the cars would be moved to Montrose. From there they would be moved to Gunnison and from there to Salida. From there in a day or two off to market on the standard gauge.

The loading and moving to Salida was done with in the time set out as know one wanted to pay the extra cost of off loading feed and reloading on route.

It was fun producing this feature on Bill Scobie's Sn3 Layout.  Enjoy