Monday, May 20, 2019

Laying Track

Getting the track ready for the train's arrival. Never did this before, so I'm just making it up as I go along.
Each track weighed 1,000 lbs, so I moved them with the Toyota!
Got everything leveled side to side and end to end.
 
I built this track gauge to ensure the caboose would fit on the tracks. 4 feet 8 and 1/2 inches! Pounding spikes is not in my future line of work.

Ta da!

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The Caboose


Working to save this 1903 Caboose built for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in Tacoma Washington for it's subsidiary Spokane Portland & Seattle (SP & S) Oregon Electric Railway (OE Rwy) for use on the Willamette Valley line of the OE Rwy between Portland and Eugene. It may have been used on the Astoria Main Line. The caboose was used on freight trains for rolling office, observations car and to protect the rear end of the train in terminal or end of line. It was also a home for the train crew. On duty, the car carried a conductor, rear brakeman/flagmen, and conductor. The conductor was in charge of the train and locomotive, he had a desk to do his paper work on way bills, wheel report and timekeeping. Off-duty the head brakemen joined with the rear end crew for meals and sleep. The caboose had three bunks, a fold down table, ice box, cooking/heating stove, water tank, sink and toilet.Here are some current pictures.