I ran across a very curious letter in our archival files today from a Dr. Swain of Morristown, NJ who evident had a full-sized original Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes 2' ft. ga. wooden caboose in his home as recently as the 1970s. He also had the smokebox cover from ex-PRR/M&E No. 3 mounted in the front facade of his fireplace. Photos attached to the letter prove the existence of these items.

Does anybody know if either the caboose or the smokebox cover have been preserved in a museum or do these items still exist in private hands?

All the surviving SR&RL cabooses are accounted for EXCEPT the cupola end of caboose #558, which was sawn off by a railfan for re-erection in the model RR room of his house. The remainder of the caboose was left to rot into oblivion. Could this possibly be the same person?

Whether #558's cupola end survives to this day, I do not know.

Sincerely,
Glenn

PS - The SR&RL only rostered 3 of this style of caboose. Two originals, #556 and #557 survive in operable condition. TWO new operational replicas have since been built.

> I ran across a very curious letter in our
> archival files today from a Dr. Swain of
> Morristown, NJ who evident had a full-sized
> original Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes 2'
> ft. ga. wooden caboose in his home as
> recently as the 1970s. He also had the
> smokebox cover from ex-PRR/M&E No. 3
> mounted in the front facade of his
> fireplace. Photos attached to the letter
> prove the existence of these items.


christensenge@yahoo.com

I re-examined the photos today and it is in fact the sawed-off cupola end of the SR&RL caboose! I have a correspondent who will be checking sources in Morristown this weekend to track down its disposition. Stay tuned!

> All the surviving SR&RL cabooses are
> accounted for EXCEPT the cupola end of
> caboose #558, which was sawn off by a
> railfan for re-erection in the model RR room
> of his house. The remainder of the caboose
> was left to rot into oblivion. Could this
> possibly be the same person?

> Whether #558's cupola end survives to this
> day, I do not know.

> Sincerely,
> Glenn

> PS - The SR&RL only rostered 3 of this
> style of caboose. Two originals, #556 and
> #557 survive in operable condition. TWO new
> operational replicas have since been built.

Absolutely! Thanks!

> I have a correspondent
> who will be checking sources in Morristown
> this weekend to track down its disposition.
> Stay tuned!


christensenge@yahoo.com

Kurt,

I have some details. Please contact me off list.

Tim

tstuy@nospam-eldcps.org