Ophir Loop

Ophir Loop View c1900
Bridges 46D and 46E

Mountain Panorama of
Old Railbed 2000

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Mile 43 through 47 contains a very famous section of track on the Rio Grande Southern. The track makes a long switchback between Howard Fork and Lake Fork San Miguel River. It climbs a steep 3.5 percent grade to gain the elevation needed to reach Matterhorn and beyond. The loop hangs on the side of Yellow Mountain. Along this section there were some spectacular wooden trestles and a wonderful view. Many photographers traveled the extra mile to Ophir in order to be rewarded with some of the most famous photographs of the railroad.

BRIDGE 44A (Butterfly Trestle)
M.P. 43.9
Elevation: 9,096
Length = 338 feet
Max Height = 60 feet
20 degree curve

Named the Butterfly Trestle after the nearby Butterfly Mill, this structure is one of the most famous on the RGS. Only Otto Mears would have the courage to begin an assault on this steepest of mountains with a curved trestle over the Lake Fork of the San Miguel. This structure withstood a lot of punishment from the repeated high flows on the river. Over the years the beast began to loose its parts and the crews repeatedly had to do major surgery to save the structure. Two of the interior vertical bents were chopped off after flooding in 1911 and the lower half replaced with a simple beam span over the river bed.

This trestle was located just south of the Ophir Depot across the Howard Fork of the San Miguel river. It was originally constructed of a 108' Howe Truss at the center span with wooden trestle on each end. In 1914 the truss was replaced with trestle bents. Prior to 1909 the structure was identified as BR9A.

Located immediately past from the Ophir Depot the structure crossed the Howard Fork of the San Miguel river. There was a water flume beneath that ran to the Ames Power Plant. The trestle consisted of 7 simple spans.

Originally this bridge was a 64' Howe Pony Truss with 15' beam panels. In 1910 it was reconstructed with a 3 simple span trestle.

A 64' deck truss with simple beams on each approach was originally built this location. It was reconstructed in 1920 with a 4 simple span trestle.

Originally a two 64' Howe Deck Trusses with a center pier was at this location. In 1920 it was replaced with a 5 simple span trestle.

Here was the most magnificent structure on the RGS highline. The original bridge was a collaboration of approach trestle work with a 64' and 86' Howe Deck Truss in the middle. In 1910 the 64' truss was replaced with simple span trestle work and in 1920 the other 84' truss was replaced bringing the total trestle spans to 21.

When first constructed this structure consisted of 14 simple span trestle bents. Minor modifications were built in 1920.

This structure was located on an 'S' curve and consisted of two Howe Thru Trusses with a center pier. Simple beam panels made the approaches at each end.