There is a posting in FLIMSIES about the restoration of caboose number 7 at the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California. Info in that report states that the caboose was built in 1923 and arrived in Jamestown in 1956. I have reason to believe that this caboose was built for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway. If so, she is one of the last wood cabooses in existance from the EJ&E. Anyone know for sure? If number 7 is NOT a former EJ&E crummy, then what is her heritage?

Thanks.

Les

The Ironhorse Central has a former Duluth & Northeastern caboose that was originally EJ&E.

Jeff Terry

Jeff -

Thanks. Any idea as to the original EJ&E number?

Les

If I remember correctly, the Great Western Railway in Colorado purchased two wood cabooses from the EJ&E in the 1950's. Both still exist in private ownership. I think I have the original EJ&E numbers at home, I will dig them up this evening.

Jason Midyette

In June of 1958, the Great Western bought two cabooses from Iron & Steel Products, Inc. of Chicago Illinois. For some reason, I have in my notes that the cars were EJ&E cars, but I can't find any back up for that. Anyway, caboose #82 became GW 1009 and caboose #1010 became GW 1010.

Both still exist, 1010 on display in Windsor Colorado and 1009 in private hands in eastern Colorado. Attached photo shows GWR 1010 in Windsor Colorado on October 20, 2004.

If this is not an EJ&E caboose, I apologize for wasting everyone's time! :)

Jason Midyette

Jason -

I am 99.9% certain that GWR 1010 is a former EJ&E caboose. Thanks very much for the info and photo.

Les

Les,

That's a pretty distinctive looking hack. I'd be curious if some of the spotting features are common across older EJ&E cabooses?

Rob

Sierra #7. Reportedly ex-EJ&E 1923, recently rebuilt.



Steve

Rob -

Unfortunately, I don't know. There is a rather extensive site on the EJ&E here:

http://www.ejearchive.com

But if you look at the section on wood cabooses, they say that they are "still working on it".

The photos of wood cupola cabooses on the J show several distinct features:

1. top trim that goes up toward the cupola, and then under the cupola windows.
2. the steel frame showing under the bottom edge of the tongue and grooved wood siding.
3. the rather heavy end ladders which curl to almost reach the roof.
4. the rather tall smokejack about halfway between the cupola and the body end.
5. double side windows fairly close together.

Here is a photo from George Elwood's Fallen Flag website of EJ&E 112:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/eje/eje-c112ark.jpg

These features are all visible in the photo of GWR #1010 posted by Jason Midyette. I have also seen a photo of D&NE caboose #06 that may be the caboose that Jeff Terry mentions as now being on the Iron Horse Central and does appear to be ex-EJ&E. I have also seen a photo of Chicago & Western Indiana caboose #1971, purchased used, which also has these same identification marks.

The photo posted by Steve Zuiderveen of the rebuilt Sierra Railway #7 shows a few of these features as missing, possible changed in the rebuild. Maybe a pre-rebuild photo of number 7, could tell us for sure if she is indeed ex-EJ&E.

Les

To clarify a typo in my previous post, EJ&E 156 appears to have become Great Western 1010.

Attached below are scans of some information from the Great Western's files;

- The flyer from Iron & Steel adbvertising the cabooses for sale, with handwritten notation's of the car's numbers (I believe these to be their EJ&E numbers)

- A June 1958 letter from the Great Western's superintendant indicating that the cars had been renumbered. (the notation that the cars had been purchased in 10/57 for $1850/ea is mine)

- A photo of GWR 1009 taken in Loveland Colorado in 1962.

Also, there is a photo on page 29 of the book "Sugar Tramp" (about the Great western) that shows the two cabooses arriving in Loveland Colorado in 1958. #156 is right behind the locomotive, with is lettering freshly painted out. The fresh paint matches the pattern of the EJ&E lettering.
Jason Midyette

Jason -

Terrific stuff. Thanks for posting all these. I find it interesting that the photo of GWR 1009 shows the marker light still on the cupola roof. The previously mentioned C&WI caboose also still had its roof mounted marker lamp when the railroad first put it in service.

I should also state that the J kept a number of these wood cupola cabooses on their roster, removing the cupolas and using them in transfer service. In fact, if you check out the Fallen Flags website, you will find another photo of EJ&E 112, the caboose in the photo referenced earlier in this thread, with its cupola removed. Eventually, the railroad purchased steel platform cabooses for transfer service and these old wood veterans were retired.

Les

Sierra Railway #7 is indeed an Elgin, Joliet and Eastern caboose. I'm not sure what on her has changed during the rebuild. When she arrived on the Sierra she looked pretty much the same as any of the other EJ&E cabooses, though she had sheets of wood laid across the sides as a double-sheath. She retained that until, at least when California took ownership. After that, she looked the same in physical appearance as she does now. I HATE the lettering style she's in though. She should have

S.Ry. 07

on her sides. That's proto-Sierra Railway.

Back in the late 60' I was visiting my uncle in Loveland Co. & talsed my dad in to letting me ride the Great Western. At that time you could buy tickets as the train was listed as "mixed" offering caboose accommodations.
What a great ride on Easter break from school. Even got to ride the engine for a good part of the trip.

Dave Huffman

I stumbled across a website for the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad today, which referenced this photo:

http://octrr.clarion.edu/Picturepages/party.htm

Obviously, OC&T #10 is another ex-EJ&E wood cupola caboose! Not sure what her original number was, but obviously another wood caboose from the "J" still survives!

Les

Les,
looks very similar to Sierra caboose #7, but I guess that makes sense since she's an ex-EJ&E caboose too.
Mike