Nice save RJ. If you didn't get it out of there it surely would have been cut up just like the three P-70s.

Later!
Mr. Ed

Arjay3, Is that a Lehigh Valley caboose that you moved? If so what was it's LV number?

Have no desire to own or move a caboose in the near future, but I am always interested in moving odd shaped or heavy loads. After driving truck for 23 years I guess some of the old draw remains.

Just what is involved in removing the cupola from a wooden caboose? Not involved in wooden car restoration, but familiar with basic construction. While no one wants to remove unneeded parts of the main structure, I would think it to be doable? Just how involved is it? Also while asking this I would think this area of fastening the copula to the car body would be a place of rot or potential rot due to leaking roofs and the joints in the wood holding moisture. Have always thought the copula would be the biggest concern height wise in moving a caboose, also thought if I owned one this might be a trouble spot for rot. Moving a couple of miles might not be so bad, but longer hauls it could lead to more headaches and more permits.

Enjoy these threads about moving odd ball things down the highway. I don't see much difference than moving super heavy duty combines down the highway when the grain heads are 14 ft wide and the cab is way up there. I got behind one of these on the way to work a few weeks back. I think this driver didn't have any permits and was trying very hard to get to where he was going quickly, but was taking up most of the two lanes that road had to offer! Very stressful pulling loads like this and worrying about potential accidents or fines. Out here you might get away with it easier than in a big city area. But states and local governments are looking for funding anywhere they can find it, you do not want to be the next donor. Cheers, John.

I saw a Pennsylvania wood caboose moved once on which the cupola was held on by two bolts through each of the adjacent carlines. A minute with a Crescent wrench and the cupola could be lifted off and lowered into the carbody. The car was low enough to be rolled onto a low trailer and hauled with its wheels under it. I don't know if this is true of roads other than PRR.

Aarne Frobom
Cabin Car Creek, Michigan

On the CN and CP cabeese I've worked on, both wood and steel, removal of the cupola would be a major job, and I'm not certain they could be removed in one piece. The modern welded cars would be easiest to remove, but it would still involve a lot of weld grinding or torch work.

That PRR car sounds like a pleasure to work on!

Steve Hunter
RMEO

After owning a Soo Line wood caboose for thirty years I willingly (I was happy to quit patching, rebuilding, priming and re-painting a near 100 year old relic, continuously) sold it and the buyer moved it from Wisconsin back to Illinois on a low, boy truck. With a trailer of this type, there was no need to remove the cupola (which would have been very difficult and would have endangered the car body). All we did, was easily remove the pins to the brake rigging and lift it up off the trucks with a crane. The trucker blocked, braced and tied it down securely and the trucks also went on the trailer. She arrived back in Monticello (where she spent the first fifteen years of our ownership and then later in Minnesota and Wisconsin ... all movements made on her own, friction, bearing trucks and sometimes at speeds above 50 MPH) safe and sound after a 500 mile ride with no damage.

As much as my family and I enjoyed our time with 99110, it was good to see her go back to Monticello and to new, younger, hands and hearts who will continue to care for her as she gracefully ages. As much as we enjoyed the experience, today, the best place for an old, caboose is in an operating museum.

Barry