This past Monday after closing, we set up for the Caboose Train, which runs the next three Sundays. The caboose has been open on static display all season, but comes to life starting this Sunday. The caboose was already in the right place, but we needed to grab our Wilson freight car to make it a true freight train. After moving a few other railcars out of the way, we coupled Locomotive 5 (which originally carried freight right on our own rails) to the Wilson car, then brought it out onto track 2 next to the platform to couple it with the caboose. Now we have a true freight train, with a locomotive, caboose, and freight car.
The following three Sundays, September 10, 17, and 24, the caboose train will be carrying passengers! Passengers are welcome to ride in either the caboose or the locomotive and experience a piece of what life was like for workers on freight trains before cabooses were replaced by lineside defect detectors and end-of-train devices. This Caboose Train does not require any advance reservations and is available for regular admission. We will also be running CA&E car 458 this Sunday to allow visitors to experience an interurban passenger car in addition to a freight train.
