Stumbled across this caboose this evening in Alma Kansas.

Anyone have any idea what railroad it is from?

Thanks

Jason Midyette

As I'm sure you know, the number is generally above the door on the inside. The Rock Island GSR and a long-gone Santa Fe branch both went through Alma, KS. It sort of looks like a circular herald is coming through the white paint between the windows. It could be one of many surviving examples from a big road, or it could be the last remaining piece of equipment from a small one, we won't know until it is identified. Did you try asking the owners?

It's definitely a Northern Pacific caboose, they're pretty unique because of their short length and the small bathroom window on one side.

You're right, note the little window on both of these on the side just to the rear of the cupola. Robert Ulberg photo https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showP ... ?id=973406

Well, well, well...
...first I see a well seasoned pile of firewood...,
but maybe this are the remains of some NP 24ft caboose.

See here more about the NP wood cabooses:
https://research.nprha.org/Modeling/NP% ... ctions.pdf

[quote="linkthebutler"]Well, well, well...
...first I see a well seasoned pile of firewood...,
but maybe this are the remains of some NP 24ft caboose.

Sadly, I think it has gone well beyond seasoned. I would not be surprised to learn that the structure of this caboose had less moisture content when it was part of living tress.

Thanks to all for the replies. I knew I had seen that style of caboose before, I just was not thinking outside the box of railroads that would have been in the general vicinity of Alama, Kansas and forgetting how the BN brought Great Northern and Northern Pacific stuff to places it would not otherwise have ended up.

It is a pretty complete car, the steel frame and trucks are long gone, but even the platform steps are still with it. (makes me wonder if it survived for a while as a complete car and only lost the frame relatively recently).

No numbers were visible as they had all been painted over (inside the car as well), for what ever that is worth

If only wood railroad cars once restored stayed restored, I would be tempted to drag this one home. Instead, I suppose I suppose I will re-restore that which I restored 20 years ago.

Jason Midyette

At least the remains of the caboose have been identified and not passed without recognition. Thanks for bringing attention to the old hack.