She ain't pretty but with a whole lot of work.....
Planning to restore exterior and make interior more "family friendly" since wife put up with another idiotic idea of mine. Last year I bought a fire engine LOL. My secretary said " I hope it has a bed in it...because you're going to need somewhere to sleep".
Anyone with thoughts / ideas on restoring, please don't hesitate to offer your opinion.
Thanks!
Scott

My first thought is how much those two little children are going to cherish the memory of their Daddy buying a caboose so they "could sleep like in a real train!" Nothing idiotic about that. COngratulations. Paint her up is pure Pennsy colors, please.

LOL and thank you. They wanted to sleep in it that night. It's going to be a while! But I think his cub scout den will have a great cookout there in the Spring.
It's on live rail but I work for the railroad part-time.

Planning on sand blasting in small parts and priming each section right away.

I'm going to have to create some type of lock on, metal plates for over the windows to prevent break-ins. Lot's of time to think over the winter.

It's going to be original PR colors and logo or PC. Anyone think it would be "wrong" to paint the roof with the aluminum paint vs. black? I know PR never used the silver but it sure might help in the summer when I'm inside working on it! Maybe I need to do one of those "polls" on this site.

Need to find the original, quarter circle, hand rails. I wonder when they were replaced. Anyone have any ideas? PLEASE let me know if you know of one going to scrap.
Thanks all!

RE: Silver paint on the roof or not

Funny you should pose this question, as I posted a similiar one here about a month ago regarding my own caboose. (SP C-30-6 #1353) In the end, I opted to go with the original paint color on the roof for two reasons. First, I knew deep down that if I altered the original paint scheme, even in the interest of utility, it would bother me. Second, I realized an overall savings in time and material cost by painting the roof. After sand blasting, it was quicker and cheaper to blow the roof out with the same primer and paint as the body. Not that quick and cheap is the answer, but given that silver would have bothered me anyway, it made the decision easy. Congrats on your new caboose!

Congrats!

That's really really cool. I think PC would look sharp on it, but that's just me.

thanks for the pics. Love to see more, especially of the interior. My 2 cents, Pennsy colors please. There are two N5Bs close to me. One was in PRR markings, but they changed the Pennsy logos out for city Welcome center markings, and the other is in Conrail paint, and that one sits next to a NYC Bay Window. Any chance you're near Ohio, loved to see your Cabin Car in person!

Yuck! Keep in mind, if you make it look too much like a mobil home, it will attract tornados!

I can see your point about summer heat. I bet you could paint the portion of the roof visible from the ground the correct collor, and still be able to paint 80% - 90% of the roof surface silver, and no one would be the wiser.

Dennis, good idea. After the initial comments, I think i'll go with my gut feeling...black roof (after all it does have windows to vent it) and PR paint scheme. Anyone have a color photo showing the PR color and logo from 1941? Of course I could paint it any scheme after 41. I guess I'll look for the most attractive. I'm going to tarp it for the winter, so lots of time to plan. Right now I'm looking for replacement mortice locks for the doors. Something with a modern key vs. the old skeleton keys. They may look classic but they aren't much for security and I don't want to start putting hasps and padlocks on any more than necessary.


Dave it is in Ohio. Northeast Ohio, not far from Canton.
No problem on a visitation day.

I'll post some interior photos soon with some questions about the interior.

Thanks again all!
Scott

Scott,

On several pieces of our equipment including our N&W caboose and both operating diesels, we retained the original locks and added an adjacent deadbolt. Very secure, but barely noticable.

Thanks Gary,
I looked for sliding bolts that I could lock but couldn't find anything. I'm trying not to drill more holes....the rust has already put plenty in! LOL I guess it is one of those things that if someone REALLY wants to break in, they'll find a way.
Scott

I think Gary means a modern deadbolt with the lock cylinder drilled through the door and a "turnpiece" on the inside for fire safety, so no one can get locked in. I doubt you will be able to find a modern mortise lock to fit the existing; better to leave the "classic" in place but non-functional and add a unobtrusive modern lock.

Thanks, I knew what Gary was talking about, I'm just not sure about drilling more holes in the door. I thought a sliding bolt might not be as "permanent". The only good thing about a replacement mortise is you wouldn't be able to tell the difference unless you looked close if I could leave the outer hardware in place.
But, the point is well taken. Either way, it is taking away from the original. But, in this day and age, it is more important to protect it.
Vandals should be made to do track work!
Scott

Here are some interior photos. Anyone know what the original seats looked like up top?

A few more interior photos.

Similar PRR car moving through Pennsylvania, article with video posted today:

http://www.inyork.com/local/ci_13756958