The “Galloping Goose” actually began operating in 1932. Prior to that time around 1915, the goose wasn’t even a train, it was a self propelled gas-electric car approximately 60 feet long that roamed the rails between small branch-lined towns. It was a mixed passenger, freight, express train, which housed an engine room, baggage compartment and a passenger section. The “Goose’s” primary purpose was to provide passenger services to small towns where it didn’t warrant using a full train with a locomotive. Grocery, hardware and dry-goods stores used it like a delivery system.

No one seems to know how it got its name. Bryan Olson, assistant general counsel for the Burlington Northern who is a history fan, suspects the name came from the sound of the air horn. They sounded quite a different note than the high-pitched whistle of the steam locomotive. But if you had been able to ride on the “Goose” you may have agreed to another version. As it rode along the rail line, it felt like it was “galloping.”

Many people got rides simply by flagging the train down anywhere along its route or at any crossing. They would go on to the next community and do their business and get a ride back to their original destination. It served many, many people in distress, especially in the sparsely settled country west of Sidney to Richey. High school pupils living along the railroad would ride all or part way to school usually for free and leaving school early for the return trip home.

(Use arrows above to view more photos)

In 1932, The Great Northern Railway Company “Goose” actually became train No. 237, 285, 288, 291, 292. In its daily train run between Williston and Richey, the “Goose” made eight interstate movements between North Dakota and Montana, made 38 regular stops in the 301 line miles, crossed two major rivers, the Missouri and the Yellowstone, and ran through the only railroad tunnel (1,284 feet long) in North Dakota. It also served as a connecting link with two major railroads, the Great Northern and Northern Pacific, each day.

Leaving Williston six days a week as Train No. 285, the “Goose connected with the Empire Builder and heads west at 7:15 a.m. (MST). A quick stop in Snowden, and it left at 7:45 where it connected with the Western Star. Its next stop was Fairview. Leaving there at 8:10, it arrived in Sidney at 8:30 and left there as Train No. 292. It arrived in Fairview at 9 a.m. and became No. 288 before its departure a few minutes later. Watford City was its next stop at 10:20. It left Watford City at 10:29 as No. 237 and arrives in Fairview at 11:59 after stops in Cartwright, Charbonneau, Alexander, Rawson and Arnegard.

The “Goose” became Train No. 291 when it leaves Fairview for Sidney, reaching its destination at 12:21 p.m. It then ran as an “extra” on the Newlon track as No. 285 until it arrives in Richey at 2:01 p.m. after stops at Lambert, Enid and Lane en route.

It left Richey at 2:13 p.m. and made all stops along the way Lane, Enid, Lambert, Sidney, Fairview, Dore, Nohly, Buford and Trenton, N.D., and arrived in Williston about 5:10 p.m. In its daily run, the “Goose” went around four “Y’s,” which saved a number of miles.

Feb. 20, 1959,The Great Northern branch-line “Goose” was discontinued. Under an order issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the railway company was given authority to discontinue the service. The order, followed by three months of public hearing, was conducted by the ICC in Sidney in which it was reported by a railroad official the Great Northern was losing $200 a day on the “Goose” run.

The Great Northern motor bus replaced the “Galloping Goose.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Information compiled fromthe Fairview Times and Honyocker’s Heritage book.