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Many thanks to the people who sponsored this email for the month of December. If you enjoy the Eye Candy, the events, the descriptions of upcoming city meetings, and Golden History, please consider sponsoring us for January–or contributing a small amount on a monthly basis.
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Thanks,
Barb Warden
goldentoday.com
What’s Happening in Golden Today?
6:30-7:15AM HIIT (Virtual)
8:30-9:30AM Power Training (Virtual)
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
1-2PM The Friday Tour: Galloping Goose @ Colorado Railroad Museum
Learn more about the Galloping Goose in today’s Golden History Moment!
3PM Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic @ Foothills Animal Shelter
Live Music
5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom
5-8PM Josh Blackburn @ Golden Mill
7PM Soul X Dance All Night @ The Buffalo Rose (main venue)
Soul X is an 8 to 11 piece variety band that has a rare combination of talent, expertise, versatility, showmanship, and fun! Our interactive high energy performance style and exceptional vocals are backed by authentic musicianship. Whether it’s current top 40, Motown, blues, 80’s country, funk, and more, Soul-X impresses with every genre. The band performs an average of over 100 events a year in Denver, across the US, and internationally, leaving audiences across the globe begging for more.
7-10PM Chuck Fisher @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
New Years Eve Options!
Saturday December 31st – 8PM New Year’s Eve @ Morris and Mae
Christmas is done, it’s time for NYE plans! Join us at Morris and Mae for your celebrations! Not only are we offering bottomless champagne, appetizers, DJs RYLHGHNSS and Movesayer, and balloon drop, but with ticket purchase, you receive $99 room rates at Origins Red Rocks Hotel for the night! (Normally $209)
Saturday December 31st – 6PM New Year’s Eve @ The Golden Mill
Get your party on early. Dj Drake will be here spinning the music of the decades. We will be watching the ball drop in New York City. There will be complimentary hot chocolate for the kids and champagne for the adults when the ball drops.
Golden History Moment
Item of Interest: Galloping Goose
by Paul Haseman
The Galloping Goose #7 in the photo above is one of seven “geese” built by the Rio Grande Southern in their rail shops in Ridgeway, CO in the 1930’s. With mining on a downward trend, the only way to provide mail service to Telluride was to adopt a new cheaper mode of transport for the narrow-gauge line.
So, adapting a gasoline powered vehicle versus the existing steam engines was proposed using a 1931 Buick “Master Six” four door sedan. It worked and six more followed “in train” using one more Buick and then five Pierce-Arrow bodies and engines. In 1945, #3, #4, and #5 were rebuilt with Wayne bus bodies (at least the front half) replacing the old Pierce-Arrow bodies. This provided more passenger seating and comfort. A year later they also received new war surplus GMC engines. The Galloping Geese remained in service until 1950, when the RGS lost its mail contract. The “Goose” name derives from the honking horn as opposed to the railroad steam whistle.
Today, one “Goose” remains on display in Telluride. In recognition of the uniqueness of this transportation mode, the city’s circular shuttle route vans are emblazoned as the Galloping Goose. Otherwise, three of the remaining “geese” (# 2, 6 and 7) reside at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and provide occasional fun service for visitors.
If Golden were to one day create a downtown shuttle service, the Galloping Goose might be an apt name with some of the originals nearby at the Railroad Museum.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!