It was time to say goodbye to Ouray and head to Gunnison for the 2025 MHA conference. There were two short stops along the way.

The Cedar Hill Cemetery, AKA the Ouray Cemetery, is located between Ouray and Ridgway. It includes a broad section dedicated to miners but with few gravestones.  A groundskeeper explained that this area was subject to flooding and graves may have been lost over time. It also seems likely that many miners were too poor to afford stones.

The mining car contains a plaque that reads “This ore car is donated in memory of the known and unknown miners of Ouray County. Ouray County Historical Society. 2003.”

A family member visiting graves during my visit noted that his relative had been an assayer at one of the Ouray area mines.

Ridgway, Colorado is located a bit farther north of Ouray.  The highway to Telluride branches off here.  It was an important railroad town in its heyday.  Otto Meers’ Rio Grande Southern Railroad connected Ridgway and Durango, serving all the mines in between at Telluride, Rico, Dolores, Ophir, and Mancos. Branch lines of the Denver and Rio Grande Western connected Ouray, Silverton, and Red Mountain. CLICK HERE  for the Route Map, courtesy Galloping Goose Historical Society).

Today the town is home to the Ridgway Railroad Museum.  Its collection of rolling stock includes two examples of the original seven “Galloping Geese.” The restored Galloping Goose No. 4 is shown above.  The geese provided more economical rail service than conventional trains.  Because of their unusual design, the railroad designated the geese as “Motors.”

A reproduction of Galloping Goose No.1 which carried the US Mail.

Denver & Rio Grande caboose and a small switching engine.

(Above and right) The restored Rio Grande Southern passenger coach.

(Above) The restored Denver & Rio Grande Western boxcar from the Royal Gorge Route Scenic Line.