On March 10th 2011 our museum recoved a very rare caboose. It was left on the remains of a logging spur when the main line, the MD&W Deer river line was removed in 1947. It was left out in the woods 9 miles from any roads and was used by a couple of railroad officials as a hunting shack. They purposly had it isolated. Over the years it sunk in the mud and when I removed it it was quite a challenge. The following article tells the story, It was in last Saturdays International Falls Journal. The reporter did not totally understand about railroads and some of the facts, but overall did a great job on the story. Here is a link to the article:

http://ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/leis ... writer-104

The caboose has the following history:
Built in the 1880's Date unknown.
Trucks Have stencelling:
D&W Ry #5
X-966
GNRYL
The side of the caboose is lettered MD&W Ry. Co. 207

The caboose has no steel center and has the old couplers bolted to the wood.
The end doors are off center like ancient sleeping cars were.

I will be adding a page to our website with pictures of the caboose soon.

Erik -

Congrats on getting the historic caboose. Sounds like a great restoration project.

Les