Contributed by Stan Jennings
| The Rio Grande southern Galloping Geese have always been a bit cantankerous. Even Goose Number 5, the only Goose of the surviving six to have been fully resorted, upheld the tradition on her return in 1998 and again in 1999. However, whether the Goose trouble occurred on the RGS or during a modern excursion, the crew has quickly made the necessary repairs to keep the Geese on the go. Besides, all the modern passengers say that if the Goose didn't occasionally have mechanical problems they wouldn't be having a Real Goose experience. |
| In 1998, Goose Number 5 had trouble with fuel delivery because of the softening of the 1940's fuel pump diaphragm by the 1990's gasoline. (See ''A GALLOPING GOOSE ON THE CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC TAILROAD '' elsewhere on this web page for the complete story on the June 1998 experience.). |
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| The May 20 through June 20, 1999 Goose Experience on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad fully upheld the Goose tradition, but all the problems happened on one day, Thursday May 20, 1999. The day started out just fine, but the Goose began to overheat. Then she really overheated! There was nothing wrong with the meticulous restoration, however. The brakes had been adjusted a bit tight causing the GMC 361 to work much harder than designed leading to the overheating. The water tank in the box body that the RGS had installed because of their chronic overheating problems was used for the first time since the restoration. Then the fuel pump problem bit again. The replacement mechanical pump was installed, but the final solution had to be the installation of the stand-by electric pump. |
| But the Goose was not done challenging the crew and giving the passengers a Real Goose Experience. At MP 339.2, about three-quarters of a mile from Labato Siding at a point now known as ''Goose Point'', the Goose hit the ties! Motorman Wayne Brown brought the Goose to a halt in seventy-five feet. The front axle had broken just behind the wheel! The crew managed to chain and block the truck up so Wayne could limp Number 5 across Labato Trestle onto Labato Siding. The axle was removed and everybody headed back to Chama. |
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| Obviously a new axle had to be machined, but the C & TS machinist had resigned two days earlier and. nobody in the area had the skills to machine a new axle. Then Carl Shaffer, a retired Union Pacific machinist who had joined the Galloping Goose Historical Society that morning, came forward and said he could do the job. The C & TS let him use the shop and at 8 AM on Friday, May 21 Carl began work. Eight and a half hours later he was finished with this fairly complicated bit of work. The Goose crew took the new axle up to Labato siding, quickly installed it and brought the Goose back to Chama. The Goose was down only twenty-four hours and she behaved herself from then on providing the passengers and crew alike with trips on some absolutely beautiful days. |
| Goose Number 5 was back in operation during Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads Railfest 1999 and had no troubles (see ''The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railfest '99'' elsewhere on this web page). |
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| For another Real Goose Experience plan on attending the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads Railfest 2000 with a variety of activities from August 22 through August 30, 2000. Not only will Goose Number 5 and the 1875 narrow gauge 4-4-0 Eureka be back operating on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad during Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads Railfest 2000, Colorado Railroad Museum plans on having Goose Number 2 operating during the Railfest! Readers of this web page should be aware that a lot of work will have to be done to Goose 2 to make it ready for operating on D & SNGRR's tight schedule and it is possible that Goose Number 2could not be ready in time. If Goose Number 2 does operate during Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroads Railfest 2000 it is planned that Goose Number 2 will be operated as a second section of Goose Number 5 to minimize scheduling hassles. |
| This story originally appeared in The Colorado Time-Table with a note about planned May 27 through June 12, 2000 excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. However, due to the problems on the C & TSRR the Goose trips have be canceled and other special excursions postponed. If the C & TSRR is able to, Goose Number 5 will operate on the C & TSRR in 2001, look for late May early June dates again. |
Mark L. Evans
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