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Rio Grande Southern RR - Galloping Goose Timeline

Here's a history of the unique little 'motors' which the RGS created by in the 1930s as a way to reduce the costs of federally-required passenger service. The steam trains used for that tasks were becoming too expensive, and with the road nearly bankruptcy a more creative solution was required. This timeline will show when the various geese were created, rebuilt, wrecked, sold and/or scrapped. I'll include links for photos, specs and other info where possible.

Like the main historical timeline I'm building, this is an ongoing creation, and isn't complete yet. Special note - check out Bill White's article on Driving Goose 7, and get a feel for what it was really like to drive these contraptions.

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Goose Timeline

Date	Event	Ref
Date	Event	Ref	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

1913	RGS Motor #1 is built from a converted Model T Ford, as an inspection vehicle for Superintendent W.D. Lee. Although not a Goose at all, this was the first RGS motor. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: pic1 pic2	Ssj, p321
6-06-1913	RGS Motor #1 derails and rolls into the Dolores River. Superintendent W.D. Lee and his wife jumped before it hit the water, but Roadmaster Gilland didn't and was seriously hurt. Mrs. Lee refused to ride in the car after this mishap, saying it bounced too much.	Ssj, p321
1925	RGS Motor #1 is completely wrecked; it wasn't rebuilt.	Ssj, p321
6-01-1931	Goose #1 is built from a Buick "Master Six" four-door sedan, a creation of Superintendent Forest White and Chief Mechanic Jack Odenbaugh. This first Goose (the railroad actually referred to these as 'motors' unit the 1950s) weighed just 5300 lbs, and was only 20'-0" long. It's engine developed 28 hp, and top speed was 30 mpg (although 20 mpg was more typical). Cost was $828.55. It had a cab capable of carrying 2 passengers, and a stake body in back for mail and other cargo. Color was dark green or black. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5	Ssj, p321, Ssj, p617	Built
6-??-1931	Having pass initial trials w/flying colors, Goose #1 is put into service between Durango and Dolores.	Ssj, p322	active
8-1931	Goose #1 acquires an enclosed body with a sheet metal roof, as well as a bench in the rear section. Passenger capacity is now seven. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: pic	Ssj, p322	active
8-12-1931	Goose #2 is completed, using a Buick "Master Six" four-door sedan, and had a larger frame and 16' mail/express compartment in back, although it still rode on 2 trucks. Weight was 10300 lbs, length 29'-11", and the engine had 28 hp. The front sat 4 passengers, and more could ride in the rear or even on top! The #2, however, was a gas hog. Color was dark green or black.	Ssj, p322	active	Built
12-02-1931	Goose #3 is completed, and was much larger than #2. It used a Pierce-Arrow 1926 body and a '33' engine with 39 hp. Weight was 14800 lbs, length 43'-3", rode on 3 trucks, and was articulated. It cost $2586.18. Geese #4, #5 and #7 were similar. Color was dark green or black.	Ssj, p323	active	active	Built
5-04-1932	Goose #4 built, using a Pierce-Arrow 1926 body and Pierce-Arrow 33 engine. Weight was 14950 lbs, length 43'-3". Cost was $2584.56. Color was dark green or black.	Ssj, p617	active	active	active	Built
1933	With the success of it's other geese, the RGS is contracted by the San Cristobal RR to build a similar motor, for a cost of $2337.00. This was fairly similar to RGS Goose #2, using a Pierce-Arrow 80 body. There is a little more history on the Nathan Holmes D&RGW.net site about the railroad, including the fact the goose was orginally built by McFarland-Eggers of Denver from an 1928 Pierce-Arrow in 1934, and tested on the C&S out of Denver (the reference for this part of the story is from The D&RG Lake City Branch and a Galloping Goose, which was published in COLORADO RAIL ANNUAL #14 on p97. The Denver work and C&S testing is also referenced in the article D&RG's Lake City Branch in Trails Among the Colubine from 1988). Then in late 1934, The San Cristobal RR had RGS rebild the goose. This differs from (and is probably more accurate) than the Silver San Juan's assertion that the RGS built from scratch in 1933. The COLORADO RAIL ANNUAL #14 has 3 pages of photos and drawings, along with text. See pages 102-105. Pg 103 has a poor photo of the front and a good shot of the rear. Pg 104 has a pen and ink by Gordon Chappell. Pg 105 shows a front 3/4 of the Pierce Arrow body an the front of the freight body, and also has a specifications sheet.	Ssj, p323 D&RGW.net R Cutter	active	active	active	active
1933	Goose #1 is scrapped.	Ssj, p617	---	active	active	active
June 1933	An ICC inspector demands air brakes be added to the geese, and shortly thereafter requested better horns and sanders. Superindent White looked into air brakes but found them too expensive. A siren was added temporarily to supplement the horns, but was found annoying to everyone except the inspector and was later removed.	Ssj, p323	---	active	active	active
6-08-1933	Goose #5 built, using a Pierce-Arrow 1928 body and Pierce-Arrow 36 engine. Weight was 14770 lbs, length 43'-3". Color was dark green or black.	Ssj, p617	---	active	active	active	Built
1-13-1934	Work goose #6 built, using a Buick body, Buick-6 engine, and a non-articulated frame. Weight was 8700 lbs, length 25'-8". Many parts in this Goose came from the recently scrapped Goose #1. Color was dark green or black.	Ssj, p323 Ssj, p617	---	active	active	active	active	Built
11-15-1934	The San Cristobal Goose is back for a rebuild, the final result matching Goose #5 for the most part (except that the original 2-door passenger section was retained). Final specs were Pierce-Arrow 80 body, Pierce-Arrow 6 engine, weight 14510 lbs, length 43'-9". This is unlike the large RGS motors as it did not have the back of the cab widened about 20" or so.	Ssj, p323 Ssj, p617 R Herronen	---	active	active	active	active	active
1935	The San Cristobal RR's Goose is delivered, when the railroad finally found the money to pay for it.	Ssj, p323	---	active	active	active	active	active
1935	All Geese were repainted in aluminum, which was expected to last longer then their dark green / black paint jobs. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: Goose #2: p1 p2 Goose #3: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 p12 p13 p14 p15 p16 p17 p18 p19 p20 p21 p22 p23 p24 Goose #4: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 Goose #5: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p10 p11 p12 Goose #6: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 p12 p13 p14 p15 p16 p17 p18 p19 p20 p21 p22 p23 p24 p25 p26 p27 p28 Goose #7: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7	Ssj, p325	---	active	active	active	active	active
10-27-1936	The last Goose, #7, was built using a Pierce-Arrow 1926 body and a Ford 1936 V-8 engine. Weight was 16500lbs, length 46'-0". It also contained a refrigerator, to enable shipping of meats and vegetables during the summer.	Ssj, p324 Ssj, p617	---	active	active	active	active	active	Built
10-27-1936	With Goose #7 available, Goose #2 was relegated to Ridgway and used as a spare. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: p1 p2 p3	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
July 1938	Five years after being requested by the ICC, air brakes are finally installed on Geese #3 and #4. The system used straight air, so a loss of pressure would mean a loss of braking ability. The old hand brakes were thus retained for backup.	Ssj, p323	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1939	The San Cristobal RR's goose is returned the RGS when the railroad went belly up. It was dismantled, the express compartment becoming a shed behind the Ridgway roundhouse and the other parts used to rebuild Goose #2. Here's a photo of the express compartment.	Ssj, p323	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1939	Goose #2 is rebuilt with a Pierce-Arrow body and a new engine, using parts from the San Cristobal goose. Some of these parts can still be identified in Goose #2 today, according to Keith Goodrich, who is with the Colorado RR Museum, and there's a panel inside Goose #2 that still reads San Cristobal. Robert Herronen writes that the cab went to replace the one on Goose #2 which still had the older Buick body. The other mechanical parts were undoubtable salvaged to keep the RGS flock going. Probably the motor went into the #2 as well. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: pic	Ssj, p324 K Goodrich R Herronen	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1939	Air brakes added to Geese #5 and #7. #2 never did get air brakes, until they were added by the Durango and Silverton RR when Goose #2 participated in Railfest 1998. #6 also never received air brakes from the RGS.	Ssj, p323 Keith Goodrich	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
?	Goose #2 is semi-permanently retired, used occassionaly only as a spare? Photos from Galloping Goose.org: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5	Ssj, p323	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
During WWII	Goose service is discontinued between Durango and Dolores.	Ssj, p325	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1940	1940 was the year (approximately) that the RGS Sunset herald is applied to the newer geese (#3, #4, #5 and #7). These did not have the new herald in 1939, and most photos in 1940 seem to show them w/the new herald. I'm not sure about the dates for geese #1 and #6.		---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1940s	Goose #4 is pictured here, apparently transferring loads to a truck for shipment to Telluride, after Goose service into Telluride was discontinued. It doesn't look like Vance Jct though...	Bob Richardson	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Summer 1942	Geese #3 and #4 lose their 'frog-eye' fenders.	Ssj, p325 / p338	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Dec 1942	Superintendent Boucher complains that 'Motor 6 heats terrible', going to add that it even ran hot going downhill.	Ssj, p325	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1945	Goose #5 loses her 'frog-eye' fenders.	Ssj, p325	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
10-11-1945	Goose #4, again pictured here at the transfer point for Telluride, after Goose service into Telluride was discontinued. And here's a couple photos of Goose #3, also taken here on the same day: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
1946	Geese #3, #4 and #5 are rebuilt with Wayne bus bodies. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: Goose #3: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 Goose #4: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 Goose #5: pic1	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
8-21-1947	Goose #5 receives a 261ci GMC engine; #3 is still Pierce-Arrow powered (although according to Dick Rudolph, Wikipedia says the 261 engine wasn't available in 1947, and that a 270ci GMC engine was likely the engine used). Perhaps #4 was the first to receive the GMC engine? All of the big Geese (3,4,5,7) eventually received the GMC engine, which was World War II surplus, and originally used in 2.5 ton trucks (Red Ball Express). Art Gibson rode #3 this day, and he tells me that upon arrival at Ridgway he and his Dad went over to inspect #5, which had just been re-engined with a war-surplus GMC engine. The motorman extolled it's merits - more power and much more dependable operation.	Art Gibson Keith Goodrich Dick Rudolph	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
8-21-1947	The remains of the San Cristobal goose were still in existence in Ridgway, and Art and his Dad saw it this day.	Art Gibson	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
9-15-1948	Here's some photos of Goose #3 at the transfer point for Telluride, some years now after Goose service into Telluride was discontinued: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Spring 1950	The express compartments on Geese #3, #4, #5 and #7 are converted for passenger use. Seats from old Denver buses, long benches, and snack bars were added. Capacity was now 32 people. Galloping Geese were painted on the sides of the motors, and also used in advertising along major highways. I believe this is the first official acknowledgement by the railroad of the term Galloping Goose. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: Goose #2: p1 Goose #3: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 Goose #4: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 Goose #5: p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 p12 p13 Goose #7: p1 p2	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Summer 1950	Outhouses were built at Trout Lake, painted boxcar red, and lettered 'Goose' and 'Gander'.	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Summer 1950	About 1000 people ride the Geese this summer.	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Summer 1951	Over 2000 people ride the Geese this summer. Here's a picture of Goose #3 from June of this year, and August photos of Goose #3 and Goose #4.	Ssj, p324	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Aug 1951	Goose #2 is sitting out-of-service in Ridgway, technically still a spare, although she looks pretty dead. Here's a photo of her, sitting next to the destroyed rotary in the Ridgway yard.	Bob Richardson	---	spare	active	active	active	active	active
Fall 1951	RGS operations are drawing to a close. Bob Richardson shot some photos of Goose #6 at work... On Aug 9th at Rico: p1 and Dolores: p2 (same day?) On Nov 16th, between Stoner & Bear creek: p3, and at Bear Creek: p4 And on Dec 19th, in the snow near Hesperus: p5. And finally back home in Durango that same day: Durango: p6 p7	Bob Richardson	---	?	active	?	?	active	?
3-1952	Goose #3 is sold to Knotts Berry Farm, where it is put into service briefly on the park's railroad.	Orange v2	---	?	Knotts	?	?	?	?
9-5-1952	Goose #6 is used for scrapping - here are some photos of her switching in Dolores: p1 p2. And here's more photos of another Goose (#3 according to the caption - maybe not yet at Knott's?) scrapping in Telluride this day: p3 p4	Bob Richardson	---	?	Knotts	?	?	scrapper	?
9-25-1952	Here's a couple photos of one of the bus-body Geese scrapping near Telluride; the caption says it's #3, but I think the #3 was already on it's way to Knott's by this time: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	?	Knotts	?	?	scrapper	?
10-10-1952	Goose #6 is active in scrapping the line. Here's a photo of her working near a washout near Muldoon. There are many more photos of this operation in the route summary under Muldoon. Bob was particularly prolific that day with his camera!	Bob Richardson	---	?	Knotts	?	?	scrapper	?
11-6-1952	Goose #5 has made it to Dolores, sitting sadly in the dirt near the depot: p1.	Bob Richardson	---	?	Knotts	?	display	scrapper	?
1953	Scrapping of the RGS begins, and the Geese begin their sad task of hauling away the very rail they ran on. The express boxes and sometimes the bus bodies are temporarily removed for these operations. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: Goose #3: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 Goose #6: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 Goose #7: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10 pic11 pic12 pic13 pic14 pic15 pic16 pic17 pic18 pic19 Vance Jct: pic20 pic21		---	spare	display	active	active	active	active
1953	Goose #3 is retired and goes into storage as a static display at Knotts Berry Farm. With two operating steam locomotives, ex-RGS #41 and ex-D&RG #340, the Goose isn't needed.	Orange v2	---	spare	display	?	display	scrapper	?
April 1953	Goose #7 is in use by the Brinkerhoff Brothers to scrap other lines; here's some photos of her scrapping near Fall Creek, CO: p1 p2 p3 p3 And a few more of her scrapping at Grady, CO in June: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	spare	display	?	?	?	scrapper
April 1953	Goose #2 is sitting at Ridgway, long out-of-service and looking pretty sad. Here's some photos of her, sitting next to 461: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	spare	display	?	?	?	scrapper
1953	Goose #2 is moved to the Bob Richardson's Narrow Gauge museum in Alamosa, at a depot he called 'South Alamosa". Here's some photos: p1 p2	Bob Richardson	---	display	display	?	display	scrapper	?
After 1953	Geese 6 and 7 were used by the Brinkerhoff Brothers to help scrap the RGS. They assumed that they'd have a shot at scrapping the D&RG's San Juan Extension (Chama to Durango) when it's time came, likely soon. So, they purchased these two Geese and stored them near Rico and later inthe Ignacio area. However, that abandonment didn't happen for years, and when it did scrapping methods didn't include geese pulling flatcars, as was used on the RGS and Marshall Pass. Had that extension been scrapped in the 50s, it's likely these two geese would've been scrapped soon after. Happily, they weren't, and were eventually acquired by the Colorado RR Museum.		---	display	?	display	display	stored	stored
After 1953	Goose #2 moves to NG Motel(?) and is cosmetically(?) restored. Photos from Galloping Goose.org: Before restoration: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 After restoration: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p7 p8 p9 p10 p11 p12 p13		---	display	display	display	display	display	display
After 1953	Goose #4 is sold to Telluride, and installed on display between a couple buildings. Photo from Galloping Goose.org: pic		---	display	display	display	display	display	display
After 1953	Goose #5 is sold to Dolores, and installed on display next to the RGS depot. Photo from Galloping Goose.org: pic		---	display	display	display	display	display	display
After 1953	Geese #6 and #7, owned by the Brinkerhoof Brothers (scrappers) and used in scrapping the line, are moved to his private property at the foot of Florida Mesa, and stored.	Donn Osier	---	display	display	display	display	stored	stored
After 1953	Mike Blazek writes about the legend of some RGS paper and a missing goose body: "Some of you might remember in the fifties when the San Cristobal goose body, which had been sitting behind the roundhouse in Ridgway (and is included in lots of photos there - such as this photo) was "lost" on the way to the CRRM. It was loaded with "tons" of RGS paperwork some of which found it's way to the CRRM but according to legend, no one ever saw the goose body again. There has been definite speculation about someone paying off the truck driver to deliver it elsewhere, but no one has ever proved who the culprit was although some say they know his identity as a well known railfan. Ah, sweet mystery.	Mike Blazek	---	display	display	display	display	stored	stored
1960	Geese #2 is on display at the Colorado RR Museum. Here's a photo from that year: pic.	Bob Richardson	---	display	display	display	display	stored	stored
4-12-1967	Goose #7, stilled stored in the Brinkerhoff Brothers scrap yard. (The Brinkerhoff Brothers of Rico had the RGS scrapping contract, among other contracts). Here's some photos: p1 p2 p3		---	display	display	display	display	stored	stored
1973	Goose #3 is restored and briefly returns to service at Knotts Berry Farm while the park's two operating steam locomotives are overhauled. The overhauls are completed later this year, the Goose is returned storage & display. According to Nathan (a conductor at Knott's), at some point the 261cc GMC engine in #3 failed and was replaced, I think around 1953. The replacement was a 346cc Reo engine, surplus from the Korean War (again, from 2.5 ton trucks) and apparently found within Knott's somewhere. The 261cc GMC engine was likely discarded.	Orange v2 Keith Goodrich	---	?	display	display	display	stored	stored
1983	Geese #6 and #7 are finally purchased by Dick Kindig from the son of the RGS's scrapper and moved to the Colorado RR Museum. Donn says the frame of one was so badly rusted it broke while being winched onto a flatbed truck for transport.	Donn Osier	---	display	display	display	display	display	display
1990s	Goose #5 is still just at display in Dolores at this point. In 1990, Henry Valdez snapped a couple photos of her sitting near the site of the eventual depot replica; she looked pretty bad at the time: p1 p2 Later, in the mid-1990s, the depot replica had been completed, and Goose #5 was moved around the corner and placed a bit of new track. Jack Mulliken visitied around that time, and provided these photos: p3 p4 p5.	Jack Mulliken, Henry Valdez	---	display	display	display	display	display	display
1997	Goose #3 is rebuilt by Knotts Berry Farm with a 4-stroke Cummings diesel engine and put into regular service, used mostly on less busy days when it doesn't make sense to bring out either of the park's two steam locomotives - RGS #41 or D&RG #340. This Goose had sat virtually mothballed for a long time prior to this work, and probably still had the old 346cc Reo truck engine from an earlier restoration (approx 1953?). The Reo engine was removed and donated to the Galloping Goose Hist Soc in Dolores for help in restoring Goose #5, but it was not installed (today, it's either stored or was given to the CRRM). Goose #5 still has the engine installed by the RGS after WWII (a 270ci or 261ci GMC). Nathan (a conductor at Knott's) related the interesting tidbit that before the Goose re-entered passenger service at Knott's, it had been the personal hobby of one of the teen-aged Knott's family members, who used to operate it on employee nights.	Knotts Berry Farm	---	display	Rebuilt	display	display	?	?
Jun 1997	The Galloping Goose Historical Soc begins the restoration of Goose #5, disassembling the passenger section. Restoring to operation wasn't planned at this point, but as the condition of the Goose became apparent, plans changed and a full restoration was initiated.	Hubert	---	display	active	display	rebuild	?	?
Jun 1998	The restoration of Goose #5 is completed by the Galloping Goose Historical Soc in Dolores, and runs on the C&TS. The Narrow Gauge Circle has chronicled that trip in their article A Galloping Goose on the C&TS. A few weeks later, it travels to Durango and runs as part of Railfest 1998. Mario Rapineet took a number of photos of the restored Goose #5, including a number of neat interior shots in 2004: p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6.		---	?	active	display	Rebuilt	?	?
Sep 1998	Goose #2 is taken to Railfest 1998, on the Durango and Silverton RR. The D&S required air brakes, and as #2 didn't have any the D&S installed them. However, they used a 9.5" cylinder off a flanger, and this was way oversize for the Goose. In fact, it actually twisted the truck frame and eventually worn the flanges on the wheels down.	Keith Goodrich	---	active	active	display	Rebuilt	?	?
May 20, 1999	The Galloping Goose Historical Soc again brings Goose #5 to the C&TS for several weeks of running. The adventure on this day was chronicled in another article on the Narrow Gauge Circle, titled Goose #5 Loses a Wheel. Dave captured some photos as well. It was like the RGS days of old!	Hubert	---	display	active	display	active	?	?
6-01-2000	A replica of Goose #1 is created by the Ridgway RR Museum. Pictures are available on the museum's site	Ridgway Museum	Recreated	display	active	display	active	?	?
8-23-2000	The Goose #1 replica makes a memorable run on the Durango and Silverton RR during Railfest 2000.	Railfest 2000	active	active	active	display	active	?	?
8-24-2000	Railfest 2000 takes place on the Durango and Silverton RR, with Geese #1, #2 and #5 all running and hauling passengers.	Railfest 2000	active	active	active	display	active	?	?
2001	Nathan (a conductor at Knott's) told me of more Goose #3 repairs. It's roof was sagging in 2001, but Knotts Berry Farm decided to restore the old bird and repaired the roof. Most of the freight compartment's wood and metal work was also replaced. It then returned to passenger service on weekdays during the off season at Knott's. Nathan says the Goose needs just 10 gallons a week, while either of the (now) oil-fueled C-19 steam locomotives burn 300 gallons a day.	Knotts Berry Farm	active	active	rebuild	display	active	?	?
2005	Geese #2, #6 and #7 are being rebuilt at the Colorado RR Museum. Geese #2 and #6 are getting new air truck Maxi-brakes, and #2 is getting new wheels and axles. As of June, the wheels were completed but the axles were not.	Colorado RR Museum	active	rebuild	active	display	active	rebuild	rebuild
6-8-2005	Goose #5 returns to the C&TS railroad. There's lots of photos: Unloading set 2 set 3	Dead Goat Saloon	active	rebuild	active	display	active	rebuild	rebuild
4-28-2007	Goose #2 returns to operation after a rebuild, at the CRRM.	NG Discussion Forum	active	active	active	display	active	rebuild	rebuild

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