Northbound Goose. Rio Grande Southern Motor Number 5, one of the famous Galloping Geese, cruises through the Rockwood Cut on a northbound run toward Cascade Canyon during Railfest 2011. Goose 5 is one of 8 rail-bus-type vehicles built by the Rio Grande Southern's Ridgway Shops during the early 1930s as a means of handling light passenger and freight traffic without having to dedicate steam-powered trains. It was an early example of a cost-reduction program, undertaken by a financially-strapped railroad and was actually quite successful for a time. Although each of the Goose vehicles is unique, they were mostly hybrid combinations of a bus and a box car. For the most part, the passengers rode in the bus (forward) portion, while freight.mail was carried in the box car portion. In the early 50s, when the RGS lost their mail contract, the company cut windows into the box car section and used these vehicles for tourist excursions. Fortunately, they survived long enough for their historic value to be recognized. Six of the 8 still exist and one replica has been built. Nearly all are still operational. This particular example is owned by the city of Dolores, Colorado and is operated by the Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores. It runs at several special events each year, including Railfest at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
While Colorado's narrow gauge steam railroads are the major draw, the state is also home to several diesel-powered tourist railroads that take passengers to the Royal Gorge and other sites.
