Dolores, CO
Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores
4.8· 32 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-15- TypeDolores nonprofit museum and excursion operator for the restored Rio Grande Southern Galloping Goose No. 5
- LocationDolores, CO
- Rating4.8 ★32 Google reviews
- UpcomingFri, Oct 2
About Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores
The Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores is the nonprofit steward and excursion operator of restored Rio Grande Southern Motor No. 5. The Society's free museum occupies a 1991 replica of the Dolores RGS depot and interprets the railroad, the town, a 1940s yard model, telegraphy and the unusual motorcars. No. 5 is not a daily Dolores train. For its remaining 2026 public rides, the Society moves the vehicle to two separate host railroads: three Durango-to-Silverton round trips on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and six full-day fall excursions ticketed by the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad from Chama. At the August 15 cutoff, those nine exact dates are the complete published future ride horizon. The Society also lists a free Dolores Santa ride only as an undated December event, so it remains a durable offer rather than a calendar occurrence until an exact date is published.
Choose the Host Railroad Before You Plan the Goose Ride
Choose the visit that fits your groupVisitors who want a 90-mile same-day Goose round trip through the Animas River corridor
Choose one of three Durango-Silverton dates
Ride No. 5 from Durango to Silverton and back on September 5, 12 or 19. Each date departs at 10 a.m.; book and confirm live inventory with Durango & Silverton.
Age-11-and-older riders prepared for a 7-9-hour mountain day and a possible motorcoach segment
Match the Cumbres date to its route
Friday, Saturday and Sunday trips use three different rail-and-bus patterns. Read the exact itinerary before choosing among October 2-4 or October 9-11.
Travelers whose trip depends on mobility, transfer, seating, restroom, hearing, vision or service-animal details
Call before booking for access needs
No. 5 has historic steps, compact seating and narrow passageways. The host must confirm boarding, transfers, seating and any available accommodation for the selected route.
Every rider, particularly anyone managing medication, hydration or restroom timing
Plan without an onboard restroom
Use departure-station facilities and route stops. The Cumbres trips provide restrooms at Osier; the Durango host publishes facilities at route locations but not aboard the Goose.
Rail-history visitors building a Dolores stop before or after a host-railroad excursion
Treat the Dolores museum as a separate visit
The free museum is open on its current volunteer schedule, but the nine ticketed rides depart far away in Durango or Chama. Call ahead because No. 5 may be traveling.
Families interested in the local holiday event rather than the long-distance fall excursions
Wait for an exact Santa date
The Society lists a free December Dolores ride but no calendar day. Use the official schedule for the future announcement rather than treating the entire month as an occurrence.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- WeatherMountain temperatures and conditions change quickly; both hosts recommend layers, sturdy closed-toe footwear, sun protection and water
- RestroomsGalloping Goose No. 5 has no onboard restroom; use terminal facilities and the published route stops, including Osier on Cumbres & Toltec trips
- Identity BoundaryThe Dolores Society owns, maintains and operates Galloping Goose No. 5; Durango & Silverton and Cumbres & Toltec host the track, departure facilities, ticketing and trip-specific policies
- Remaining CalendarNine exact future departures remain: September 5, 12 and 19 from Durango, plus October 2-4 and 9-11 from Chama
- Durango RouteEach September date is a 90-mile Durango-Silverton round trip departing Durango at 10 a.m., with a Silverton layover and optional alternative return by bus or train for an added charge
- Durango FareThe Durango & Silverton page publishes an all-in fare of $195, including its 8 percent Historic Preservation Fee; call the host railroad for reservations or live inventory
- Cumbres RoutesFridays run Goose Chama-Antonito with bus return; Saturdays begin with a Chama-Antonito bus and return by Goose; Sundays run Goose Chama-Osier-Chama
- Cumbres FaresFriday and Saturday Cumbres & Toltec trips are $210 and Sunday trips are $185 before the separately stated 7 percent historical preservation fee
- Cumbres AgeCumbres & Toltec lists the Galloping Goose trip for adults age 11 and older; do not project that limit onto the separate Durango product
- Duration And ArrivalCumbres & Toltec trips take about 7-9 hours and request arrival at least 30 minutes early; the Durango page publishes a 10 a.m. departure but no exact return time
- Boarding And AccessNo. 5 has compact seating, steps, narrow passageways and limited accessibility; call the applicable host before booking because standard accessible-coach claims do not establish Goose access
- FoodCumbres & Toltec includes lunch; the Durango-Silverton schedule allows time to obtain lunch in Silverton but does not include a meal in the published fare
- Dolores MuseumThe current museum page publishes May 22-October 13 hours Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., occasional volunteer-dependent Sundays, free admission, and winter access by appointment or special event
- Museum Check AheadCall or email before a Dolores museum visit because staffing is volunteer-dependent and No. 5 may be away on an excursion
- Santa StatusThe Society describes a free December Santa event with a Goose ride at the museum but publishes no exact 2026 date, so it is excluded from occurrence data
Find the Depot
The Trains
Rio Grande Southern Motor No. 5 is a three-foot-gauge self-propelled railcar built at the railroad's Ridgway shops and placed in service June 8, 1933. It originally combined a 1928 Pierce-Arrow automobile body and running gear with a freight section. A 1946-47 rebuilding substituted a World War II-surplus GMC gasoline truck engine and Wayne bus body, and a 1950 conversion added passenger space in the former freight-and-mail compartment. The Society restored No. 5 to operating condition in 1997-98 and continues to maintain and crew it. Current Cumbres & Toltec guidance describes compact seating, steps and narrow passageways; it has no onboard restroom. Host-railroad accessible coaches, locomotives and ordinary excursion consists are not part of this product: on these dates, No. 5 itself is the passenger vehicle.
History
The Rio Grande Southern opened its narrow-gauge route through Dolores between Ridgway and Durango.
The RGS built its first lightweight gasoline-powered Motor at the Ridgway shops.
Motor No. 5 entered service on June 8 using Pierce-Arrow automotive components.
A 1946-47 rebuilding gave No. 5 its GMC engine and Wayne bus body.
The former freight-and-mail compartment was converted for additional sightseeing passengers.
The RGS was abandoned, and Dolores Rotary Club members bought No. 5 for preservation.
The Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores was founded.
The Society built the replica Dolores depot that now houses its museum.
Restored No. 5 made its first run in nearly 47 years on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
See full history
Otto Mears' Rio Grande Southern opened its roughly 160-mile route between Ridgway and Durango through Telluride, Rico, Dolores and Mancos in 1891. Falling mining revenue and the cost of conventional steam service pushed the railroad toward lighter gasoline-powered Motors. The first appeared in 1931; No. 5 entered service in 1933 for passengers, mail and light freight. The railroad did not market them as Galloping Geese until late in its life. After the mail contract ended and the RGS abandoned its line in 1952, Dolores Rotary Club members bought No. 5 from the receiver for $250 and displayed it in Flanders Park. The Galloping Goose Historical Society formed in 1987, built its replica depot museum in 1991 and returned No. 5 to operation on the Cumbres & Toltec in May 1998 after a complete volunteer restoration. The current excursions continue that living-history mission on surviving narrow-gauge railroads rather than on the removed RGS line through Dolores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the remaining 2026 Galloping Goose No. 5 rides depart?
The September 5, 12 and 19 round trips depart from Durango. The October 2-4 and 9-11 trips use Chama Depot as the meeting point, including the Saturday bus transfer to Antonito. None of those nine ticketed rides boards at the Dolores museum.
How many exact future Goose No. 5 dates are published?
Nine as of August 15: three Durango & Silverton dates and six Cumbres & Toltec dates. The Society also describes a December Santa ride but has not published its exact day.
Who sells the tickets?
The host railroad for the selected route. Durango & Silverton handles the September product, and Cumbres & Toltec handles the October product. The Dolores Society's schedule links to both.
Is Galloping Goose No. 5 wheelchair-accessible?
Do not assume it is. Cumbres & Toltec describes steps, narrow passageways, compact seating and limited accessibility. Standard accessible-coach information from either host does not establish access to No. 5; call before booking.
Is there a restroom aboard the Goose?
No. Current Cumbres & Toltec guidance says No. 5 has no onboard restroom, and the Durango page likewise directs Goose passengers to facilities along its spring routes. Plan around the exact host itinerary.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is included on the Cumbres & Toltec fall trips. The Durango-Silverton round trip provides a Silverton layover where passengers can obtain lunch; the published $195 fare does not say a meal is included.
Can children ride?
Cumbres & Toltec publishes an age minimum of 11 for its six trips. The separate Durango product page does not publish the same restriction, so families should confirm its current child policy directly rather than transferring rules between hosts.
When is the Dolores museum open?
The current museum page lists May 22-October 13, Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with occasional volunteer-dependent Sundays. Winter visits are by appointment or special event, and calling ahead is wise year-round.
Will Goose No. 5 always be at the Dolores museum?
No. The Society explicitly warns that it travels to operate on partner railroads. Check the event schedule and contact the museum before making the vehicle itself the reason for a Dolores stop.
Is the December Santa ride on the calendar?
Not yet as an occurrence. The Society publishes December 2026 and a 3-7 p.m. window but no exact day, so this page waits for a dated first-party announcement.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 15, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Current Society schedule for all future 2026 dates, host railroads, routes, fares and the undated Santa listing
- Current Society museum page for address, public phone and email, free admission, exhibits, volunteer hours and away-on-excursion warning
- Current Society mission and operations page for nonprofit identity, 1987 founding, depot, restoration and host-railroad boundary
- Society history for RGS chronology, No. 5 construction and rebuild, 1952 preservation, restoration and museum context
- Current Society contact page for public mailing and visitor address and phone
- Current Durango & Silverton product page for three September dates, 10 a.m. departure, route, $195 fare, lunch and restroom caveats
- Current Cumbres & Toltec product page for six exact dates, route-by-day, fares, age, duration, lunch, access and equipment details
- Wikimedia Commons Motor No. 5 category and exact file records for licensed and public-domain operator images
- Library of Congress exact Dolores depot record and no-known-restrictions rights advisory
