A Tale of Two Geese: RGS Motor #5
Here's an early morning shot of RGS Motor #5, showing the current configuration of this "Galloping Goose" as she heads east on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, just past Juke's Tree at Milepost 343.5. The #5 is one of three RGS geese (#s 3,4 and 5) which had their Pierce-Arrow bodies and engines replaced with Wayne Bus bodies and war-surplus GMC engines in 1946. The Wayne body, while not quite as stylish, is roomier and more like a rail-bus. This particular unit is owned by the City of Dolores, Colorado and operated by the Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores.
In the early days, the RGS geese were designed to carry their passengers in the forward car/bus body section, with freight and mail being carried in a windowless rear, boxcar body. Toward the end of the line's existence, around 1950, when the railroad had lost its mail contract, four of these units (#s 3,4,5 and 7) had the boxcar section reconfigured to carry passengers, by cutting in long side windows and adding bus-type seats. For the last couple of years of the line's existence, these 4 geese were used for tourist sight-seeing operations, and all 4 of these units retain that configuration today.
A Tale of Two Geese: RGS Motor #5
Here's an early morning shot of RGS Motor #5, showing the current configuration of this "Galloping Goose" as she heads east on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, just past Juke's Tree at Milepost 343.5. The #5 is one of three RGS geese (#s 3,4 and 5) which had their Pierce-Arrow bodies and engines replaced with Wayne Bus bodies and war-surplus GMC engines in 1946. The Wayne body, while not quite as stylish, is roomier and more like a rail-bus. This particular unit is owned by the City of Dolores, Colorado and operated by the Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores.
In the early days, the RGS geese were designed to carry their passengers in the forward car/bus body section, with freight and mail being carried in a windowless rear, boxcar body. Toward the end of the line's existence, around 1950, when the railroad had lost its mail contract, four of these units (#s 3,4,5 and 7) had the boxcar section reconfigured to carry passengers, by cutting in long side windows and adding bus-type seats. For the last couple of years of the line's existence, these 4 geese were used for tourist sight-seeing operations, and all 4 of these units retain that configuration today.