Description

Otto Perry's Rio Grande Southern

Sunday River presents this heartfelt document of the world famous narrow gauge that disappeared in 1951 -- the Rio Grande Southern -- often referred to as the most spectacular piece of mountain railroading in North America. For more than ten years, Otto Perry tracked the RGS with his camera across three of America's highest railroad passes... Cima Summit, Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass.  See double- and triple-heading on 4% grades to the fabled cities of gold and silver, Ophir, Telluride and Rico. Ride the fabled 'Galloping Goose', the ingenious car-train combo that kept passenger service alive on the 'Southern' for years. Follow the cattle rush through the golden aspens of autumn and see the ore and lumber specials move through the mountain meadows of spring. This film is narrated by the men and women who worked for, rode on, and whose families were a part of, the Rio Grand Southern. Against the backdrop of the mountain peaks, we see how these ordinary men and women, with their courage and the sweat of their backs, battled gigantic snow drifts, washouts, aging equipment, and financial hardship to keep this railroad alive against the odds. Color, with a little black and white. 84 minutes.