Railroad Display in Vesper WI

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:00 pm

The caboose sure looks like a fake. Anyone have any ideas about the origins of this stuff?

Josh Wallis · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:33 pm **Posts:** 112

I don't know who's responsible for it, but the paint job on that caboose is so bad it made me laugh.

pm-man · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:37 am

No offense to those who just posted, but rather than insult those people who at least TRIED to preserve some of their rail-heritage, albeit it not that professionally, might we instead offer SOME help? Geez, how would you feel if you had worked to create something which obviously took some time, only to have someone belittle YOU becuase it wasn't perfect in your eyes? Do YOU live there everyday? Did YOU offer to paint it? Did YOU offer to cut correct stencils, offer the right paint job, give them a CORRECT caboose? In my mind, these attitudes are 90% of what is wrong with our relationship with public. We need to stop looking like nit-pickers who have nothing better to do than insult and belittle the efforts of someone TRYING to do some good, and offer to help them make it look right. TJG

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:55 am

OK, ignoring the "reproduction" caboose, anyone have any guesses what the frame beside it might be from?

Tom Cornillie · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:48 pm

I would disagree in calling this a preservation effort. My guess is that the owner wanted a railroad themed building, and chose to build to his/her own specifications rather than work with an actual piece of railroad equipment. This was likely the best course of action, as he/she saved money and time and did not destroy a piece of equipment that could be eligible for preservation in the process. Moreover, we have to be careful in our language in when we use the words Preserve, Restore and conversely Replicate and Emulate so as to not apply the the wrong set of standards when evaluating a project. My guess is that is a steam locomotive tender frame.Tom Cornillie

caboose9 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:38 pm

Boyd,Are the photos yours? I assume they are since there is no attribution, but ...?If so, is this a park, campground, or ?If not, where did the photos come from?Thanks, Roger

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:39 pm

The photos were actually taken by Bruce Oldenberg. I just linked to his site for the images. I was through there a few months ago, but didn't have my camera with me. The "display" is on private property, and is apparently just someone's hobby near as I can tell.