Robert W. Richardson's Rio Grande Southern - Chasing the Narrow Gauge (Vol.3) Copyright 2011. Volume III of Bob Richardson's Chasing the Narrow Gauge trilogy takes a close look at the Rio Grande Southern, the 172-mile narrow gauge route that wrapped itself around the craggy and forested San Juan Mountains between Durango and Ridgway, Colorado. In just two years, Otto Mears built a railroad that climbed four mountain passes and featured 142 bridges, including numerous high, spindly trestles. In this 224-page hardbound book, Bob hones in on the town of Ridgway, the various RGS oasis towns in the wilderness, mine-rich Telluride, the RGS locomotive fleet, the Galloping Goose era and high-in-the-sky Ophir. He also talks about important old RGS records and how he obtained copies, relates humorous insights about hunting season on the line, the Montezuma Lumber Company operations at McPhee, and the last runs of the famed RGS trains. Hardcover, 224 pages, 345 photos and illustrations, Beautiful cover painting by Gil Bennett, 14 chapters.