While Galloping Goose No. 4 waits on the south leg of the wye, Goose No. 5 turns on the north leg in the background just south (east) of Home Ranch siding, Colorado, on August 14, 2015. This is the first time that No. 4 has joined No. 5 at Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s True West Railfest. Goose 4 was on display for many years in Telluride before joining sister No. 5 at the Galloping Goose Historical Society in Dolores, Colorado. These “motors” as RGS originally called them, was the brainchild of the creative shopmen at RGS’ Ridgway Shops, to provide a less expensive way to operate trains on an expensive-to-operate narrow gauge mountain railroad. RGS No. 4 was built in 1932, while No. 5 was constructed a year later. Both were originally powered by a Pierce-Arrow 6-cylinder and equipped with Pierce-Arrow bodies. They were later rebuilt to what you see here, using a GMC truck engine and Wayne bus body, with the rear freight compartment now converted to haul tourists.
