Galloping Goose, Dolores, Colorado

The Galloping Goose No. 5 was built in 1933 in the railroad's round-house in Ridgway, Colorado. Its front cab was a 1927 Pierce Arrow series 36 limousine widened to carry the motorman and passengers. The rear 24-foot trailer carried mail and freight. It was powered by a six cylinder Pierce Arrow gasoline engine.

The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was built in the early 1890's to provide transport to the silver mining towns of Telluride and Rico Colorado. Its 169 miles of 3-foot narrow gauge track ran through some of the most rugged parts of the San Juan Mountains. After the Silver Panic of 1893, the railroad struggled to survive. In bankruptcy, it continued to provide transport for the local economy. It hauled passengers and baggage, mail, livestock, lumber, coal and ore. In the 1930's, the Railroad created seven automotive-based rail cars to replace the more costly steam-powered passenger trains. These vehicles enabled the Railroad to continue operations for almost twenty more years. Highway road improvements in the area eventually made it difficult for the Railroad to compete and the Railroad ceased operations in December 1951.

In 1946 the Pierce Arrow Limousine cab was replaced with a Wayne bus body. It was re-motored with a GMC six cylinder truck engine built for the U.S. Army. In 1950, after losing the U.S. mail contract, the railroad ran summer sightseeing trips for tourists. Windows were cut in the rear freight box and Denver streetcar seats were installed to carry additional passengers. The Railroad officially recognized their three-trucked Motors to be "Galloping Geese," their commonly used nickname. Despite somewhat successful tourist operations, the railroad was soon abandoned.