The Galloping Goose No. 5 rail car of Dolores will offer trips on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad this spring, summer and fall.
The Cascade Canyon excursion, 52 miles round trip, departs from Durango and offers magnificent views of the Animas River and the rugged San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. The schedule is March 18 and 19, April 8, 22, 29 and Aug. 26.
The Goose is equipped with a plow attachment in case there is a snow squall, and a wood stove and heater will keep passengers in spring, said Joe Becker, Galloping Goose Historical Society president and motorman.
Highlights of the Cascade Canyon trip include passing through the famous “Rockwood Cut,” traveling along the edge of the Animas River rapids, and experiencing the scenic “Highline” from both directions. Tickets are $155 plus an 8% historical preservation fee per person.
The Goose No. 5 will be featured during Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Day on May 5.
It will run from Durango to Event Park, a 10-mile round trip. This is a family-friendly trip and a good introduction to the Goose for newbie rail fans. The Goose will run three daily trips from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The celebration features hot dogs, music, museum tours and history lovers dressed in period outfits from the Old West.
The Goose has been invited for opening day of the D&SNG trips to Silverton on May 6.
The Goose will follow the steam locomotive trains to Silverton and back.
Becker said it is the first time the Goose has been invited to run on opening day of the railroads trips to Silverton.
“I think the railroad is impressed by our professionalism and the mechanics of our Goose,” he said. “We’re not just rail fans, we are a step above.”
The Goose will also run on the D&SNG in September, running Durango to Silverton on Sept. 4, and Silverton to Durango on Sept. 5.
Also enjoy the fall colors of New Mexico when the Goose runs on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1.
Last week in Dolores, Galloping Goose volunteers prepared for the Durango excursion.
Snow and ice were shoveled away, and the Goose was loaded onto a flatbed semitrailer, which then got stuck in the soft gravel. Dolores Public Works was called in to free the vehicle using a front-end loader.
Weminuche Construction volunteers free transport of the Goose to Durango for the excursions. The trip to Durango went smoothly and the Goose was offloaded onto Track 9 at the D&SNG train yard.
For tickets and information, visit www.durangotrain.org or visit the Galloping Goose Historical Society website.
