This past Friday, Saturday and Sunday was a three day addition to my RRAdventures stories with an historic event occurring at the Colorado Railroad Museum despite Knott's Berry Farm bailing out at the 11th hour. Day #1 is now posted on my travel blog <Click Here> and I should have the other two days coming in the next couple of days as well.
Was there a truly legitimate reason for Knott's to back out? Seems pretty sad to spoil such a possibility....
I only heard rumors as to why so I can not say for sure; the Colorado Railroad Museum is taking the high road on this. Based on the rumors I think a bit of personal testosterone got the best of someone and killed #3 from coming right as it was about to make the trip in. It's sad to think that one person might have spoiled the chance of having all of them together for the first and potentially the only time this might occur. Still I applaud the CRRM for what they did achieve along with the other Colorado organizations that participated in this historic event.
Darren, you enjoyed the last one so much you returned for this one, eh? I seem to remember you had video of five of them last time, correct? :question:
Goose Fest 2009 we did have #1, #2, #5, #6, and #7 all together. At that time #4 was still not operational (for nearly 50 years) and #3 from Knot's Berry Farm could not make it. Now that #4 is operational it came to the festivities along with #1 and #5 making it the first time is RGS history these six were at the same location at the same time. It's allot of fun when Goose Fest happens as you feel you just stepped back to the 1930's when these machines were first built. RGS #2, #6, and #7 call the Colorado Railroad Museum home.
Darren, I was there Saturday Early afternoon. I would have enjoyed meeting you and putting a face to a name. Maybe next year!
Unfortunately no, I was one of the many standing in line! I was caught by surprise by the crowd, they had a fantastic turnout for the event.
Bummer. How long of a wait was it and which Geese did you get to ride in? The Event got National / International attention with AP Media putting out an article about the event in papers all over so I know I talked to folks not only from all around the US but from England and Japan as well. I was one of two Videographers using the larger high-end camcorders. The other guy was part of a professional team OK folks, I have the final installment (Day #3) posted on my Travel Blog (Click Here) and will work to put out some YouTube stuff soon as well...
We only waited about 10 minutes to ride #5. The line was back to the library, but moved fast with three geese running. The crowd was a surprise, especially in the depot, you could barely move in there. Looking through my daughter's video, right at the start of this video, there is a gentleman with a large video camera on a tripod, is that you by chance? [video=youtube;c8Tow70ivqc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Tow70ivqc&feature=player_detailpage[/video]
I'm unfamiliar with the Galloping Geese (Gooses?), so have a question about their drive train. From looking at the videos, it appears they have a direct drive through a clutch and manual transmission. Which truck(s) is (are) powered? Also, are the ones with a truck in the middle articulated? If not, how do they negotiate tight narrow guage curves? Thanks to all who have posted, this has been a treat.
Got a chance to review the video and didn't see me... Here is a shot someone caught of me within Goose #7 though...
Hank, these special little engines of the RGS are unique and yes they are old vehicles converted to RR usage and thus are manual transmission / rear wheel drive and some where extended to add Cargo / Passenger space to the rear. Let me see if I remember the history of their builds... The original #1 was a 1913 Model T and was replaced in 1931 with a Buick. The #1 was later scraped and parts put into #6. The #1 we have today is nearly a perfect replica. Goose #2 is another Buick and later refit with a Pierce-Arrow. Goose #3, #4, and #5 start out Pierce-Arrow and then the engine was rebuilt with a GMC, the Wayne Bus body was added afterwards Goose #6 started out Buick then converted to Pierce-Arrow Goose #7 start out as a 1936 Ford and then converted to Pierce-Arrow The one thing you notice when you get in the cab is nearly everything looks to be a 1930's car other then the steering wheel is missing
Interesting how they liked the Pierce-Arrow so much. What was it about them, which influenced that choice?
My understanding is the Pierce-Arrow engine of the 1930's was a very high grade engine, the type you might find in a $90,000+ car today. It was found to be highly reliable and very low cost of operation which was key to operating at such altitude and harsh conditions. They estimate while under RGS usage the Geese traveled 1 Million miles and likely another 1 million since. Given the Time-Line of these engines you can tell they have had a full life and then some as their configurations were changed to fit the need of time. It was these same Geese that scrapped the RGS track-age they once operated on. Thankfully a handful of folks did what it took to save them and keep them operational after all these years. Maybe one of these years I will get to be behind the stick rather then riding shotgun!!!
Here is some Video I took in 2009 that has a low angle on a couple of Run-By's [video=youtube;l8TC759uNqI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8TC759uNqI[/video]
Goose Fest 2012 - Turn-Table Action [video=youtube;rJQjTBVwtME]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJQjTBVwtME[/video]
Great report, Darren! I will be watching more of these videos later when I have more time. Someone matched up the sound on those really well with the sound on my Soundtraxx Tsunami sound-chip I have in my On30 railtruck. Amazing! (Oh, wait...)
Cab Ride - RGS #5 in 1080 HD! [video=youtube;P-tX8JqUy30]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-tX8JqUy30[/video]
