Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum's restoration "guru" has started another project. The south facing side on Nickel Plate Road #471 has faded badly over time. Mark started the restoration this week by repainting the light gray upper band on the caboose (as seen in the first photo). Note how badly the red paint on this side has faded. The opposite side of the caboose is shown in the second photo and although not in perfect condition, it has not weathered nearly as bad as the side facing south.


Les

great work.

The red has been applied!

As a matter of interest, when was that caboose last painted?
I noticed that it was in use as part of the consist of the train I travelled on when I visited the HVRM back in 2012 and it was in immaculate condition then....

If that was last painted 9/10 years ago, it's lasted remarkably well if it is stored outside in all weathers!

70000 -

It's my understanding that NKP 471 was last painted in 2011.

Les

What's the unit with the aar-b trucks in this photo, I couldn't find it on your roster? BTW, I love the layout of the HVRM website, very easy to find rolling stock, no headings like EXPLORE! or DISCOVER! leaving one guessing where the roster is.

PMC -

I'm assuming your talking about the unit behind the recently painted red, NKP caboose. That's Long Island RS-1 #467. Privately owned by a HVRM member which is why it's not on the museums roster.

Les

We've had some unseasonably beautiful weather this past week and Mark has been able to get some lettering on NKP #471 as can be seen in the first photo. Note that he has added the equipment trust information, better seen in the second shot. The HIGH SPEED NICKEL PLATE SERVICE in the letterboard has not been put on as he is awaiting new stencils as the previous ones could not be found. The 70 degree weather is supposed to last through this coming Monday, but he's not sure if the stencils will be ready by then.

Le

Mark's work on NKP caboose 471 is on hold of course, for the winter. But I happened to be up in the museums shop office today where I got a good look at the paint that he had applied to the cars roof last fall. Here's a photo through one of the shop windows.

Les

Beautiful work! Where did this caboose come from? There used to be one local, but it was sold several years ago.

Thanks for sharing. This is the sort of stuff that I love seeing here.

Dave -

Back in the mid-1990's, I got to wondering if Norfolk Southern might have any old Wabash or Nickel Plate cabooses still on their roster and if they might consider donating one to Hoosier Valley. My contact at NS said they had no ex-Wabash cabooses left but did have NS 557571 (ex-NKP #471) and agreed to donate that caboose to us. It had apparently survived that long because it had been leased for a time to the NEW Wheeling & Lake Erie who had finally returned it to NS. The caboose came in on its own wheels to Hamlet, Indiana and was spotted on the Starke County Co-Op siding there where we transferred it to a truck for movement to the museum. BTW, due to its coal train service for the W&LE, the caboose was extremely dirty when received, but the interior was cleaned and then repainted into the original Nickel Plate Road interior paint scheme.

Les

Thanks Les. Doubt if it's the one from around here (Steubenville Ohio area)

Les, That looks pretty sharp, I must admit. Please give my regards to Mark. That looks like a nice caboose for Audrey, since it wouldn't tower over her. Also looks like it would be a good place to hide out on a cold winter night.

Sammy -

Not sure if the stove in NKP 471 still works or not. Would have to be operational since we are due for frigid temps this coming week and that might not be the place to hide out without any heat!

Les

P.S. Calendar received. Thnx!