Credited for extending the life of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, a fleet of seven “motors,” each dubbed “Galloping Goose” were constructed in the 1930s. The Geese were built with internal combustion engines and automobile bodies. They transported some freight, passengers and, most importantly, the U.S. mail along the railroad’s route from Ridgway to Durango starting in 1931. They were such a cost saver for the Rio Grande Southern that within three weeks of Goose No. 1’s start of operation, the perpetually struggling railroad was turning a profit. Unfortunately, with the loss of the mail contract in 1950, the Rio Grande Southern was forced to terminate its operation in 1952. Goose No. 4, shown here, was built in 1932 from a 1926 Pierce Arrow automobile body and a Pierce-Arrow 33 engine. This “rail bus” has been fully restored and is usually at the Galloping Goose Park in Telluride. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, [email protected] (Catalog Number: 02.37.14 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)
