Colorado Railroad Museum Thanksgiving Goosefest

On Saturday and Sunday, November 29 and 30, 2008, the Colorado Railroad Museum brought out all three of their RGS motors – aka the “Galloping Geese” – for a special post-Thanksgiving Goosefest. While I believe RGS 2 has been operational except for the last couple years, to my knowledge the other two – RGS 6 and RGS 7 – have been inoperable at least since I moved to Colorado nearly a decade ago. In 2005, the CRRM began rebuilding all three. RGS 2 returned to operation in 2007, and earlier this month, RGS 6 and 7 rolled out of the shop to make their way around the Museum’s half mile loop of track.

Saturday – a cold, cloud-covered day with a touch of snow on the ground – marked the first time they’ve officially run together for museum visitors. Despite the rather dreary cold weather, a good number of fans turned out for the event, with sizable lines waiting to ride the whole time I was there. Aside from carburetor needle valve problems plaguing RGS 6 (once causing it to need a bit of a push over the top in the morning, and sidelining it again in the early afternoon), everything seemed to run smoothly. Truly a beautiful sight – three RGS motors rebuilt and running together again in 2008, 77 years after one of them was built (RGS 2, in 1931). All I can say is “thank you” to the museum staff and volunteers who made this happen.

But wait, there’s more. Right now, the Museum is trying to put together an even greater Goose event in May 2009. If all goes according to plan, the six surviving Geese (RGS 2-7) and the replica of RGS 1 will be reunited – RGS 1 from Ridgway, RGS 4 from Telluride/Ridgway, RGS 5 from Dolores, RGS 2, 6, and 7 from the Museum, and possibly, just maybe, RGS 3 from Knotts in California. Stay tuned…

On the weekend following Thanksgiving 2008, the Colorado Railroad Museum held "Goosefest", a somewhat holiday-appropriate celebration of their three RGS Galloping Geese - RGS 2, 6, and 7. — On the weekend following Thanksgiving 2008, the Colorado Railroad Museum held “Goosefest”, a somewhat holiday-appropriate celebration of their three RGS Galloping Geese – RGS 2, 6, and 7.

When I arrived around 1100h, only two of the motors - RGS 2 and 7 - were running. 6 was nowhere to be found. — When I arrived around 1100h, only two of the motors – RGS 2 and 7 – were running. 6 was nowhere to be found.

As it turns out, 6 had conked out on its way around the Museum's loop track before I arrived on account of carburetor problems, and needed a little shove to get over the crest of the line. (Nathan Zachman photo) — As it turns out, 6 had conked out on its way around the Museum’s loop track before I arrived on account of carburetor problems, and needed a little shove to get over the crest of the line. (Nathan Zachman photo)

Another shot of the Goose goosers. (Nathan Zachman photo)

Since there wasn't much of a line and there was one seat left in RGS 2's cab, I decided to start the day out with a trip around the loop. — Since there wasn’t much of a line and there was one seat left in RGS 2’s cab, I decided to start the day out with a trip around the loop.

Upon taking my first lap around the museum track, I found 6 resting on the turntable.

If ever you doubted that the RGS Geese were cobbled together from whatever was handy, you only need look at the dashboard to validate that. This is RGS 2's dash. Like all of the Museum geese, RGS 2's cab is built from a Pierce-Arrow Series 80 body. 2 was originally built in 1931 with a Buick Master Six sedan shell, but upgraded in 1939. — If ever you doubted that the RGS Geese were cobbled together from whatever was handy, you only need look at the dashboard to validate that. This is RGS 2’s dash. Like all of the Museum geese, RGS 2’s cab is built from a Pierce-Arrow Series 80 body. 2 was originally built in 1931 with a Buick Master Six sedan shell, but upgraded in 1939.

RGS 2's Buick inline 6 powerplant, as well as it's unusually-mounted horn. — RGS 2’s Buick inline 6 powerplant, as well as it’s unusually-mounted horn.

Apparently somebody had been tinkering with 6, as shortly after I disembarked from 2, it got permission to re-enter the operating loop. Here it is coming off the roundhouse track into the main loop.

All three Geese lined up at the passenger boarding area. Unlike the other two, 6 was always a work motor and never designed for passenger service. Today, she's mostly just for show, with 7 doing the majority of the passenger hauling. — All three Geese lined up at the passenger boarding area. Unlike the other two, 6 was always a work motor and never designed for passenger service. Today, she’s mostly just for show, with 7 doing the majority of the passenger hauling.

Shooting Geese in a Loop doesn't have quite the visual of shooting fish in a barrel, but you get the idea. A half mile loop of track is a pretty tight space for three moving rail vehicles, and it's easy enough to get most of your shots within a couple hours. Here's 7 leaving the loading area. — Shooting Geese in a Loop doesn’t have quite the visual of shooting fish in a barrel, but you get the idea. A half mile loop of track is a pretty tight space for three moving rail vehicles, and it’s easy enough to get most of your shots within a couple hours. Here’s 7 leaving the loading area.

Another shot of 7, up closer to the new water tank.

A wider shot of 7 from nearly the same spot.

Shortly after 7 passed, here comes Goose 2.

And bringing up the rear of the gaggle is Goose 6, out and running again.

Speaking of the water tank, here's Goose 7 passing under it... — Speaking of the water tank, here’s Goose 7 passing under it…

Obviously this isn't a Goose, but it has an RGS connection. It's an 1880 D&RG 34-foot narrow gauge mail/baggage car built by Billmeyer & Small that was sold to the RGS in 1891. One of this car's three twins can be found - largely collapsed - by the RGS East Mancos tank. See photos 119-121 in my 2008 D&S Railfest Trip Report. — Obviously this isn’t a Goose, but it has an RGS connection. It’s an 1880 D&RG 34-foot narrow gauge mail/baggage car built by Billmeyer & Small that was sold to the RGS in 1891. One of this car’s three twins can be found – largely collapsed – by the RGS East Mancos tank. See photos 119-121 in my 2008 D&S Railfest Trip Report.

Near the crest in the grade on the backside of the loop.

Over the top, 2 heads back down towards the turntable facilities.

Goose 7 heading into the downhill portion.

And then coming through the turn behind the roundhouse

6 is just such an odd duck... er, goose... that it's interesting to watch. Compared with the others, it's tiny. — 6 is just such an odd duck… er, goose… that it’s interesting to watch. Compared with the others, it’s tiny.

6 follows 2 down around the roundhouse curve

Coming through the home stretch, about to cross the driveway and pull up to the passenger loading area again.

And, of course, here comes 2 again. Wait, where's 6 now? Only 7 and 2 are running the lop. — And, of course, here comes 2 again. Wait, where’s 6 now? Only 7 and 2 are running the lop.

There's 6, sidelined again on the enginehouse lead as 7 passes on the main loop. — There’s 6, sidelined again on the enginehouse lead as 7 passes on the main loop.

Two things I really love - RGS Geese and wig-wag signals - that should never be in the same shot. There's something wrong about this... — Two things I really love – RGS Geese and wig-wag signals – that should never be in the same shot. There’s something wrong about this…

RGS 7 heading off to make another loop with more passengers. Barring any mechanical problems, the Museum will continue showing off the Geese for the rest of the afternoon and Sunday, 30-Nov-2008. Stay tuned - there's a possibility of the whole gaggle (all seven) being here next spring. — RGS 7 heading off to make another loop with more passengers. Barring any mechanical problems, the Museum will continue showing off the Geese for the rest of the afternoon and Sunday, 30-Nov-2008. Stay tuned – there’s a possibility of the whole gaggle (all seven) being here next spring.

All photographs in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 40D using either a Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS/USM, Sigma 18-50mm, or a Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS/USM.

This work is copyright 2024 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.