Galloping Goose
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Galloping Goose is the name given to a series of seven railcars built in the 1930s by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) and operated until the end of service on the line in the early 1950s.
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[edit] History
All the "geese" were built in the railroad's shops at Ridgeway, Colorado. The first was built in 1931 from the body of a Buick "Master Six" four-door sedan. It was more conventional in its construction than the later geese, though it had a two-axle truck in place of the front axle. Part of the rear of the car was replaced by a truck stake-bed for carrying freight and mail; this was later enclosed and partially fitted with seating. It was used for two years to carry passengers, US Mail, and light freight before being scrapped. A second "goose" was built in the same year from another Buick, but later versions used Pierce-Arrow bodies except for #6, which was constructed partly out of parts taken from the scrapped #1.
Numbers 2 and 6 were constructed with two trucks, with the rear truck powered on both axles. #2 had an enclosed freight compartment (like a very short boxcar), while #6 had an open bed similar to #1 (but larger). It was used only for work train service. The other four had three trucks and were articulated in the same manner as a tractor-trailer truck. In these, the second truck was powered, and the freight compartment was essentially a conventional boxcar. The introduction of these vehicles allowed the railroad to discontinue conventional steam passenger service, at an enormous savings to the railroad.
Initially the "geese" were painted in black and dark green. In 1935 they were all painted in a silver scheme which they retain to this day, though the style of lettering and heralds changed over the years. In 1945 #3, #4, and #5 were rebuilt with Wayne bus bodies (at least the front half) replacing the old Pierce-Arrow bodies. A year later they also received new war surplus GMC engines.
In 1950, when the railroad lost its mail contract, #3, #4, #5, and #7 were converted for tourist operations. Large windows were cut in the sides of the freight compartments, and seating was added. A figure of a running goose and the words "Galloping Goose" were added to the carbody doors. This service lasted only two years, and the last work of the "geese" on their home line was to take up the rails.
It is unclear exactly where the name "Galloping Goose" comes from. It is mostly commonly suggested that it referred to the way the carbody and the freight compartment tended to rock back and forth on the line's sometimes precarious track. It is also suggested, though, that the name arose because the "geese" were equipped with air horns rather than the whistles of the steam locomotives. The name was used informally for years before the tourist operations, though the railroad officially referred to the units as "motors".
A similar unit was built for the San Cristobal Railroad and was rebuilt by the RGS in 1934-35. When the San Christobal folded in 1939, this unit was returned to the RGS and dismantled, with some parts going to rebuilt goose #2.
[edit] Surviving Units
Of the seven "geese", only #1 does not survive, though a replica was built in 2000 for the Ridgeway Railroad Museum. The other six are located as follows:
- Geese #2, #6, and #7 are preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum and are operational.
- Goose #3 was sold to Knott's Berry Farm and is operated occasionally, primarily during off season periods, when park attendance is low.
- Goose #4 is on static display in Telluride, Colorado.
- Goose #5 was bought by the city of Dolores, Colorado. After restoration in 1998 it is now operated from time to time on the Cumbres and Toltec and Durango and Silverton tourist railroads.
