Ridgway in Ouray County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
RGS Motor 1
(Shown as built in June 1931)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2025
1. RGS Motor 1 Marker
The original RGS No. 1 was built in Ridgway in 1931 to carry mail, a few passengers, and a little express freight (up to 4000 lb). The idea was to more economically handle the daily passenger train business (including the mail) than could be done with a steam powered passenger train which had at least 4 employees. They still ran steam powered freight trains for coal, ore, lumber or livestock on an as needed basis. M1 went into service on 6/16/31 and operated between Telluride and Dolores on a daily round trip. It was fast, reliable and dirt cheap. In fact it paid off its total construction cost of about $840 in avoided labor costs alone in 3 weeks. They had already started on M2 which came out in August of 1931. Eventually 7 were built here in Ridgway. See separate description of Galloping Goose 4. M1 was scrapped for parts in October of 1933. It was a great idea but just too small. All the other 6 survived.
This re-creation of M1 was done by Karl Schaeffer in 2000 and is now the property of the Ridgway Railroad Museum. It was built out of a 1926 Buick Master 6 modified to present as a 1925 like the original. It is at least
this page online
Erected by Ridgway Railroad Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1931.
Location. 38° 9.167′ N, 107° 45.264′ W. Marker is in Ridgway, Colorado, in Ouray County. It can be reached from North Railroad Street just north of Sherman Street (State Highway 62), on the right when traveling north. The marker and restored RGS Motor No. 1 are on the Ridgway Railroad Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 North Railroad Street, Ridgway CO 81432, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Western Slope. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Galloping Goose No. 4 (here, next to this marker); D&RG(W) Caboose 91 (0575)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2025
2. RGS Motor 1 Marker
The marker is mounted directly on the truck bed railings. There is an identical marker in the same location on the other side of the truck bed.
Also see . . .
1. This is a replica of the first "Galloping Goose" (Ridgway Railroad Museum).
Excerpt: This is a replica of the first "Galloping Goose", the popular name given to a set of seven railcars built in the 1930s by the Rio Grande Southern. The replica was built by Karl Schaeffer in 2000. The RGS had been running steam locomotives for passenger services, but there was not enough passenger or cargo income to justify continuing the service at then-current levels and the RGS developed the first "goose" as a means of staving off bankruptcy and keeping its contract to run mail to towns in the Rocky Mountains. The railroad officially classed them as "motors".(Submitted on March 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Steam trains carried heavy cargo and peak passenger loads, but "motors" handled lighter traffic. They were less expensive to run and much lighter, which reduced impact on rails and roadbeds. The "geese" operated until the company abandoned its right of way in 1952.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 20253. RGS Motor 1
2. Rio Grande Southern Goose #1 (Ridgway Railroad Museum).
Excerpt: The Ridgway Railroad Museum is unique in that it houses two Galloping Geese, a replica of Rio Grande Southern Goose #1 and the original RGS Goose #5. The seven original Galloping Geese were built in Ridgway by the Rio Grande Southern in 1931. Galloping Goose #1 was originally built from a Buick "Master Six" four door sedan with a truck stake-bed for carrying freight and mail. It was later enclosed and fitted with seating. The replica vehicle has the original mail and freight configuration.(Submitted on March 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. The First Galloping Goose! RGS 1 at the Ridgway Railroad Museum (Youtube).
RGS Motor 1 in action!(Submitted on March 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2025
4. RGS Motor 1
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 18, 2025
5. Rio Grande Southern Motor 1 Replica — original mail and freight configuration
"Galloping Goose" No. 4, engine and passenger/freight car, are partially visible behind RGS Motor 1.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on March 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
