Boulder Valley Railway

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Cabooses

Burlington Northern 12300

History:

Built in 1980 by International Car Company, this caboose was based in Longmont and used in local freight service from 1994 to 2001.

Donated By:

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

Donated In:

July 2001

Restoration Plans:

Presently Operational.
  • Repair wreck damage, including bent grab irons and missing steps.
  • Repair brake system.
  • Clean and repaint interior as needed.
  • Replace missing cupola window
  • Clean graffiti from car
  • Repair brake system
Back end of caboose. Back end of caboose.
Steps repaired from wreck damage. Steps repaired from wreck damage.
Shot of caboose. Notice the blanked out side windows. Shot of caboose. Notice the blanked out side windows.
The stove works, or at least, its burning. Photo by Jason Midyette. The stove works, or at least, its burning. Photo by Jason Midyette.
Here is a photo of our Burlington Northern caboose #12300 heading through Niwot, in a snowstorm, on March 31, 2000. Photo by Jason Midyette. Here is a photo of our Burlington Northern caboose #12300 heading through Niwot, in a snowstorm, on March 31, 2000. Photo by Jason Midyette.
This is a shot of BN12300 lying on its side near the Valmont power plant on July 31 2001. This is how the caboose was given to the BCRHS. Photo by Jason Midyette. This is a shot of BN12300 lying on its side near the Valmont power plant on July 31 2001. This is how the caboose was given to the BCRHS. Photo by Jason Midyette.
12300 back on the mainline. 12300 back on the mainline.
At the end of the maintenence of way train. At the end of the maintenance of way train.

 

Union Pacific 3605 / Oregon Short Line 317

History:

This caboose was built in 1913 and retured in 1956. From 1968 to 1980 it was used to promote the Montbello Busines Park along I-70 east of Denver. This class CA-1 caboose is typical of the cabooses used by the Union Pacific into the 1960's.

UPDATE April, 2003: Since it was donated to the BCRHS in 2001, we have assumed that our Union Pacific caboose was Oregon Short Line (a UP subsidiary) 317 as OSL 317 is clearly visible above the doors at each end of the caboose. Unfortunately, this is not the case as the rosters included in the new book Cabooses of the Union Pacific Railroad by Don Strack and James L. Ehernberger indicate that the OSL did not have a caboose #317.

What the OSL did have was a series of cars numbered 3170 to 3179. So, our caboose must be one of these. Unfortunately, the last digit of the number does not show at either end so we are not sure exactly which caboose it is.

According to Chuck Babb of the Bennett & Kahnweiler real estate firm that owned the caboose from 1966 until 1980, the caboose was purchased directly from the Union Pacific. Most of the OSL 3170-3179 series cars were retired between 1957 and 1962. The exceptions were 3171, 3177 and 3179, which were renumbered 25804, 25805 and 25806 respectively in 1962. These three cars were retired between February of 1965 and October of 1966, which makes a strong case for our caboose to be one of the three. Hopefully, some careful sanding will cause the fourth digit in the number to show itself in the near future.

Donated By:

The Robinson family

Donated In:

October 2001

Restoration Plans:

Not Operational. Will be used as a display and office for the BCRHS.
  • Stabilize structurally
  • Apply 1 more coat of paint to exterior and letter.
  • Finish roof, board up windows, fix doors, replace glass in end windows
  • Clean and paint interior
The new roof, holding the snow out quite well. The new roof, holding the snow out quite well.
The caboose in its current form. 2/02 The caboose in its current form. 2/02
Trucks for UP3605. Trucks for UP3605.
New tarpaper on the cupola. 2-16-02.
New tarpaper on the cupola. 2-16-02.
Functional and Attractive (!) Deluxe window coverings. At least there won't be more snowdrifts <i>inside</i> the caboose... 3-6-02. Functional and Attractive (!) Deluxe window coverings. At least there won't be more snowdrifts inside the caboose... 3-6-02.
New Roof! 3-6-02. New Roof! 3-6-02.
Temporary holding spot until the caboose is ready to go back on trucks. 5-24-02. Temporary holding spot until the caboose is ready to go back on trucks. 5-24-02.
3605 on the new crib foundation, to free up work space for other equipment and get it off of its trailer. 3605 on the new crib foundation, to free up work space for other equipment and get it off of its trailer.
First coat of new paint. Photo by Jason Midyette First coat of new paint. Photo by Jason Midyette
Stairs. Stairs.
This is our UP caboose, in happier times, around 1970. It was used as a billboard to promote the Montbello business park east of Denver. This is our UP caboose, in happier times, around 1970. It was used as a billboard to promote the Montbello business park east of Denver.
Lettering. 3/2003 Lettering. 3/2003
A new deck and bench outside the yard office. 8/17/2004 A new deck and bench outside the yard office. 8/17/2004
Copyright © 2011 BCRHS