Rio Grande Southern Coach 252

This car was built by Jackson and Sharp in 1880 as the D&RG ‘Gothic’, sold to Otto Mears and lettered Rio Grande Southern 252 in 1891. It was used on the daily passenger trains between Ridgway and Durango until the early thirties when the passenger trains were replaced with ‘Motors’. It carried 48 passengers in flip over ‘Buntin’ seats. It had a bathroom and (one later two) coal stoves. It was finished with varnished ash paneling and a white ceiling with kerosene lamps. Seats are being built and will be installed in 2020. After the RGS was scrapped it was sold to Bob and Connie Schaeffer for $150. They spent another $300 getting it moved from Dallas Divide to a lot on the south side of Trout Lake. It was the Schaeffer cabin for about 9 years until sold. It was subsequently sold again to Don Shank and moved to Durango, CO in about 2000. It was moved to Monte Vista, CO. It was later traded to the Willamette Valley RR in about 2014. The Schaeffer family bought it in 2016, donated it to the RRM and it was moved to Ridgway on 5/23/16.