fbpx
Wikipedia

Galloping Goose (railcar)

August 19, 2023

Galloping Goose is the popular name given to a series of seven railcars (officially designated as "motors" by the railroad), 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. They were derived from full-sized automobiles.

Galloping Goose, Telluride, Colorado, 1952

Originally running steam locomotives on narrow gauge railways, the perpetually struggling RGS developed the first of the "geese" as a way to keep its contract to run mail into towns in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. There was not enough passenger or cargo income to justify continuing the expensive steam train service at then-current levels, but it was believed that a downsized railway would return to profitability. The steam trains would transport heavy cargo and peak passenger loads, but motors would handle lighter loads.

Motors were not only less expensive to operate, but were also significantly lighter, thus reducing impact on the rails and roadbeds. This cost saving meant that the first Goose was paid off and making a profit within three weeks of going into service. RGS built more Geese, and operated them until the company abandoned their right-of-way in 1952.

History

 
Slow ride on the Galloping Goose, 1951. Sheep have the right of way. Even today! Location: somewhere on the old Rio Grande Southern narrow-gauge system, perhaps in the Dolores River Canyon.

The RGS built its first motor in 1913, as a track maintenance crew vehicle. This was wrecked in 1925, but inspired the idea of using motors for scheduled service.

All of the "geese" were built in the railroad's shops at Ridgway, 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.

No. 2 and No. 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.

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. This provided more passenger seating and comfort. A year later they also received new war surplus GMC engines.

 
Crews taking up the narrow-gauge rails on which the Geese ran, September 1952

In 1950, when the railroad finally lost its mail contract (in favor of highway mail carriers), #3, #4, #5, and #7 were converted for tourist operations, and the "Galloping Goose" name was officially recognized by the railroad. 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 RGS in 1934–35. When the San Christobal folded in 1939, this unit was returned to the RGS railroad and dismantled, with some parts going to rebuild and maintain Goose No. 2.

The Galloping Goose Regional Trail on Vancouver Island was named after a similar unit that ran on the Vancouver Island section of the Canadian National Railway from 1922 to 1931.

Galloping Goose #5 (along with many local landmarks) was popularized in C. W. McCall's song, "Gallopin' Goose".

Surviving units

 
Weekly maintenance of Goose number 3 at Knott's Berry Farm

Of the seven "geese", only #1 does not survive; it was scrapped in 1933. However, a replica was built in 2000 for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and is operational today.[1] The other six are located as follows:

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Ridgway Railroad Museum
  2. ^ "RGS Timeline". Haworth, Steven. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  3. ^ Klingsporn, Katie (2013-05-17). "A Goose returns to its nest". Telluride Daily Planet. Retrieved 2016-04-03.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galloping Goose.
  • Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores, Colorado
  • Colorado Railroad Museum
  • Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose
  • Denver Post article: Galloping Goose June 2012 Golden railroad museum reunion

August 19, 2023
galloping, goose, railcar, galloping, goose, popular, name, given, series, seven, railcars, officially, designated, motors, railroad, built, 1930s, grande, southern, railroad, operated, until, service, line, early, 1950s, they, were, derived, from, full, sized. Galloping Goose is the popular name given to a series of seven railcars officially designated as motors by the railroad 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 They were derived from full sized automobiles Galloping Goose Telluride Colorado 1952Originally running steam locomotives on narrow gauge railways the perpetually struggling RGS developed the first of the geese as a way to keep its contract to run mail into towns in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado There was not enough passenger or cargo income to justify continuing the expensive steam train service at then current levels but it was believed that a downsized railway would return to profitability The steam trains would transport heavy cargo and peak passenger loads but motors would handle lighter loads Motors were not only less expensive to operate but were also significantly lighter thus reducing impact on the rails and roadbeds This cost saving meant that the first Goose was paid off and making a profit within three weeks of going into service RGS built more Geese and operated them until the company abandoned their right of way in 1952 Contents 1 History 2 Surviving units 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Slow ride on the Galloping Goose 1951 Sheep have the right of way Even today Location somewhere on the old Rio Grande Southern narrow gauge system perhaps in the Dolores River Canyon The RGS built its first motor in 1913 as a track maintenance crew vehicle This was wrecked in 1925 but inspired the idea of using motors for scheduled service All of the geese were built in the railroad s shops at Ridgway 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 No 2 and No 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 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 This provided more passenger seating and comfort A year later they also received new war surplus GMC engines Crews taking up the narrow gauge rails on which the Geese ran September 1952In 1950 when the railroad finally lost its mail contract in favor of highway mail carriers 3 4 5 and 7 were converted for tourist operations and the Galloping Goose name was officially recognized by the railroad 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 RGS in 1934 35 When the San Christobal folded in 1939 this unit was returned to the RGS railroad and dismantled with some parts going to rebuild and maintain Goose No 2 The Galloping Goose Regional Trail on Vancouver Island was named after a similar unit that ran on the Vancouver Island section of the Canadian National Railway from 1922 to 1931 Galloping Goose 5 along with many local landmarks was popularized in C W McCall s song Gallopin Goose Surviving units Edit Weekly maintenance of Goose number 3 at Knott s Berry FarmOf the seven geese only 1 does not survive it was scrapped in 1933 However a replica was built in 2000 for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and is operational today 1 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 on the Ghost Town amp Calico Railroad regularly during off season periods when park attendance is low Goose 4 was on static display in Telluride Colorado It was restored to operation in Ridgway Colorado as of June 2012 With the restoration of Goose 4 all of the Geese are now operable 2 Goose 4 was moved back to Telluride in May 2013 3 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 as well as at the Colorado Railroad Museum Gallery Edit Goose number 2 1940 Goose number 2 at the Colorado Railroad Museum Goose 5 and Goose 2 at the Colorado Railroad Museum Re railing a Goose after a derailment A Galloping Goose climbing a trestle that was part of the route Galloping Goose 7 waits on a siding at the Colorado Railroad Museum See also EditRailbusReferences Edit Ridgway Railroad Museum RGS Timeline Haworth Steven Retrieved 14 January 2016 Klingsporn Katie 2013 05 17 A Goose returns to its nest Telluride Daily Planet Retrieved 2016 04 03 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galloping Goose Driving Rio Grande Southern Goose Number 7 Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores Colorado Colorado Railroad Museum Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose Denver Post article Galloping Goose June 2012 Golden railroad museum reunion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Galloping Goose railcar amp oldid 1158725327, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.