A bit cooler, no monkeys, few peacocks, ivory soap, and forget the sandals

Thing of the past ...
Denver Public Library Special Collections.
Title: Ophir, station
Creator Bachman, Al
Date: 1964
Donor: Al Bachman; gift; 1998.
Abandoned Rio Grande Southern railroad station in Ophir (San Miguel County), Colorado. The wooden building has a tin roof and boarded-up bay window. The abandoned Oilton Club Saloon is nearby. The building has a gabled roof and a dormer with a salt box gable and a covered porch.
Format of Original Material: 1 slide : Kodachrome. Title penciled on slide mount.   

Where is Ophir?

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com

If you type in "Ophir" into an Artificial Inteligence generator, you will you will come up with an AI overview that may say some of the following:

"Biblical region: Ophir is a wealthy region or port in the Bible that was known for its gold. The word Ophir comes from the Hebrew word Ōphīr. The location of Ophir is uncertain, but the Genesis 10 list of places suggests it was in Arabia. In the time of Solomon, Ophir was thought to be overseas. The Bible describes Ophir as a source of gold, ivory, monkeys, peacocks, and almug (sandalwood) wood."

"Town in Colorado: Ophir, Colorado has a Continental Subarctic Climate, which means it has long, cold winters with short days, low humidity, and little precipitation. " 

"Ophir Optronics Solutions: A company that offers laser measurement, laser beam analysis, IR imaging lenses, and more."

 The laser beam analysis might useful today in trying to get over the hill on skis to Telluride. The monkeys and peacocks might be interesting at a party, but the sandalwood would be sort of useless except for the few days of summer which you might even wear sandals in the Colorado town of Ophir.

Motor #4 on the RGS Railroad south of Lizard Head Pass, circa 1950. The Railroad operated a series of these hybrid locomotives from 1931 to 1952 (Ridgway Railroad Museum Collection).

A Glimpse Into History:

In 1931, the Rio Grande Southern Railroad was in bankruptcy. To cut costs they converted old automobiles into rail cars, creating a hybrid vehicle called a “motor” (later nicknamed the “Galloping Goose”). These motors required just one man to operate them, instead of the five people needed to run the steam locomotives. The railroad ran both the motors and the larger steam trains until the railroad was abandoned in 1952.

In the 1950s, the railroad lost the mail contract, so the motors were rebuilt to carry additional passengers. In the photograph above, Motor #4 is shown on a bridge over the San Miguel River near what is now the Ilium Trailhead, circa 1950.

The railroad did not officially adopt the name “Galloping Goose” until the motors’ last few years of Operation. In 1951, the figure of a running goose was added to the railcar body.

Motor #1, shown here at Rico in the summer of 1931, could carry one or two passenger in the front and mail in the back. The two white flags indicate that this train was an extra, and not the scheduled train for the day (Ridgway Railroad Museum Collection).

How To Get There: 
Leaving Telluride south on Hwy 145 approximately 1/2 mile south of the Ophir Loop (FSR 630), look for a turn out on the east side of the road. You can park here and cross Hwy 145 to access the Galloping Goose Trail which turns into FSR 623 as it approaches Illium, Vance Junction and the Coal Chutes. (or) Leave Telluride on  Hwy 145 west and turn south on FSR 625 to visit Illium, Vance Junction and the Coal Chutes  To visit the Trestle - continue on Hy 145 south past Matterhorn Campground and turn on Trout Lake Road  (County Rd 63A) and  proceed about a 1.5 miles where the road crosses the Lake Fork of the San Miguel River.  Check out the Galloping Goose Mountain Biking Trail! (Brochure/Map). Looking for a place to stay? Check out the Matterhorn Cabin,  one of the Forest Service newest editions to the cabin rental program, located close by. This Forest Service Cabin sleeps 12.

 

Thing of the past ...

Ophir school, Emma Anderson Kullhem, teacher

Date: 1914-1915?

Donor: Mrs. Wayne Rice.

Emma Anderson Kullhem poses at the Ophir School, in Ophir, San Miguel County, Colorado. The schoolhouse has gable imbrication, a belltower, and sign: "Ophir School erected 1896."

Ophir, Colorado

Street in the town of Ophir (San Miguel County), Colorado. Businesses on the road include a "Billiard Hall," and "Saloon."

Date: 1883, August 21

Notes: Handwritten on envelope: "C-Ophir."; Inked on back of mat board: "Ophir Col., Aug 21-83."; Title inked on back of mat board.

Is Part Of:History Colorado, original

 

View of Ophir general store and RGS Bridge 45-B. A small piece of Silver Bell Mill is above.

RGS Ophir, CO Taken by Reid, Homer - ca. 1945

 

Thing of the past ...

Ophir Colo.

Credit: Denver Public Library Special Collections

Creator: Byers, Joseph E.

Date: [1915-1920]

Matt Ruttilla holds a horse leading a burro pack train, at Third Street (3rd) and Granite Avenue, Ophir, San Miguel County, Colorado. Buildings include the Tidal Wave Mine office and George Pickett's house. Sign reads: "Silver Mountain Hotel;" the Ophir Needles are in the background.