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This immaculately restored former Great Northern caboose, "Rocky",
is owned in part by Bruce Carswell, Assistant General Manager of the Willamette
& Pacific Railroad. I was fortunate to be invited to ride "Rocky"
with some other Sumpter Valley volunteer train crew behind WPRR's Toledo
Hauler in June of 1994. |
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The interior of Rocky demonstrates the same high quality of restoration
as the exterior. Barely visible on the left wall is the ladder to
the cupola. Also note the handhold running the length of the car. |
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In 1994 the WP had yet to convert many of it's detectors to "talkers"
and required the conductor to ride in a caboose and watch for rotating
red beacons that would activate in the event a defect was found.
This ex-Southern Pacific caboose carried the working WP crew just ahead
of "Rocky". |
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Departing the WP yard we passed a string of retired Southern Pacific
cabeese awaiting disposal. I got the distinct impression that SP
had meant for these cars to be scrapped, but now that they were officially
"off the property", a different, friendlier fate awaited them. |
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This caboose, still showing evidence of a mishap, serves as an office
for WP crews in Toledo, OR. Sitting on a spur track and connected
to land based utilities it no longer sees service in trains. |
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Note the extended vision cupola on this caboose. It escaped
the scrapper's torch by having a series of windows cut into it and providing
transportation for passengers on the Sacramento Southern. This excursion
railroad operates south from Old Sacramento along the Sacramento River. |
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Operated by the Terminal Railway Association of St. Louis this former
Missouri Pacific transfer caboose is now called a "shoving platform".
It's purpose is to give a crew a safe place to ride during long shoves
or backup moves. This train has just cleared the Gateway Western
crossing and is starting its shove into the GWWR yard. This point
marks milepost 0 on the old St. Louis & Southwestern (SSW). |
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Sumpter Valley caboose no. 4 looks rather sad in this picture without
her trucks. She'd led a rough life after being retired by the railroad
but at least she was back on her home turf and further deterioration had
been arrested. Soon skilled, caring hands would begin work on her.
Today, although still resting on the ground, she has regained much of the
look and feel of her former glory and serves as quarters for the volunteer
train crew. |
