Robert W. Richardson’s Narrow Gauge News, 1994

This book is Colorado Rail Annual No. 21, published in 1994 by the Colorado Rail Museum, Golden, Colorado.

From 1949 until 1958 Bob Richardson was the editor and “abandoned lines reporter” of the Narrow Gauge News. Seventy-three issues were mailed to those who sent self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelopes to the “World’s Largest Narrow Gauge Museum and Motel” at South Alamo’s, Colorado.

These newsletters have been reprinted as a book with over 150 photographs, many of which have never been published before. This is a fascinating account of the final years of the San Juan and Galloping Geese, snow fighting, abandonment hearings and last runs. The struggle among railroad officials, employees, rail fans and a then-indifferent public over the survival of narrow gauge is recounted from Bob Richardson’s unique perspective.

Bob has written an introduction describing how he chronicled the declining years of Colorado’s narrow gauge empire decades ago.