History

Our caboose, SP1353, is a class C-30-6 bay window caboose. (“C” for Caboose, “30” for nominal capacity in tons, and “6” referring to the 6th design series of this type of car.) It was built by the SP Los Angeles General Shops in March-June 1951 as part of an order of 50 cars of this class. These were the last cabooses that SP produced in house at the LAGS. As built, it wore boxcar red paint with bright red ends. Lettering was Roman Style “SOUTHERN PACIFIC” to the left of the bay. From paint scrapings visible in some of the pictures posted here, I have determined that the car was also painted with silver car ends. This was a short-lived experiment in caboose paint schemes by the SP. Apparently silver showed too much dirt, so the switch was made to Daylight Orange car ends. When retired, 1353 wore yet another short-lived SP caboose scheme. In 1961, SP began painting bay window cars with all orange bays, as opposed to just the bay ends. This scheme only lasted a couple of years before SP returned to painting just the bay ends orange. As retired, and as pictured here, 1353 had the 1961 paint scheme of all orange bays and car ends.

As built, C-30-6 series cabooses were not equipped with electrical appliances. Marker lights and interior lights were kerosene, and train radio was also yet to come. They were built with coal fired “estate” pot belly stoves for heat and cooking. Each car had 7 side windows originally, and an interior constructed entirely of wood. Toilet facilities were not included. Side widows were wood framed and single hung, allowing them to be opened. End platforms were also constructed of wood, and the end ladders were distinctive in that their tops were basically squared, as opposed to rounded. These cars rode on Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks with friction bearings.

 Throughout their years of service, cabooses routinely received upgrades and most received at least one major rebuilding. 1353 received an axle driven electrical generator, which powered “frog eye” rooftop marker lights, train radio, and a basic interior electrical system. Other in service modifications made to the 1353 included covering of several side windows with steel plate, and the fitting of heavy wire mesh screens over remaining side and end windows. The bay windows received sliding window screens, and a direct flush toilet was installed.

More important than what upgrades the car received is what it did not receive. Many C-30-6 cars served SP into the 80’s. 1353 did not. Other than the installation of electrical appliances, a toilet, and rubber draft gear, which occurred relatively early in the life of 1353, it remains in mostly as built condition. There are no sealed safety windows in 1353. (The kind that have a heavy rubber gasket and rounded corners) All side and end windows remain wood framed. The car retains its wood end platforms, wood end doors, and its estate pot belly stove. In fact, there is still coal in the coal bunker next to the stove. The original axle driven generator remains in the car, along with all original electrical circuitry related to the generator. The toilet is direct flush, and still works- see if you can find the photo in the gallery of one of my ‘toilet tests’. Finally, the original roofwalk and ladders remain on the car.

Maintenance records obtained from the California State RR Museum archives indicate that the 1353 was assigned to the Shasta Division from 1962-1965. Other records document the various specific projects that the car did or did not receive. For example, Car Dept. Circular F-S-19 dated 11/1/57 calls for application of enclosed toilet facilities to cabooses. The records we’ve obtained are far from complete, and I haven’t found the “caboose card” for the 1353. This card would document the specific history of the car. I did recover two small 3”x5” cards jammed behind the desk drawer in the conductor’s desk. One documents “Water Coolers Cleaned and Steamed”, and the other “Caboose Disinfected”. Both cards bear handwritten dates between 3/14/72 and 3/3/73. The cards reflect service occurring in Roseville, Tucson, and El Paso. Beneath one of the end facing seats I recovered two Form 402 Train Lists. Both reflect Tucson as the destination for the majority of their train. So, it appears that 1353 migrated south from the Shasta Division towards the end of her career.

 SP 1353 was retired in 1973 and sold for scrap. It was purchased from Purdy Co scrappers on September 23, 1974 by Mr. & Mrs. John Healey of Atascadero, CA. Purchase price was $3,180. The Healeys moved the car to their property for use as a home office and dark room. Somewhere in the process, the car lost its Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks. However, it was delivered with U-frame Vulcan caboose trucks, such that were used on SP C-40 series cupola cabooses. (Alas, I recently uncovered a photo of C-30-5 bay window car #1296 riding on Vulcan trucks, so it’s not totally wrong to have the Vulcan trucks.) The Healeys conversion of the 1353 to dark room and office was not the typical gutting of the car that is most often seen. Two interior partition walls were added, and the locker section of the car was removed. However, most of the interior was not altered. The conductor’s desk, electrical locker, toilet enclosure, ice box, and built in seats remained intact. Some very 1970’s orange shag carpet covered the wood floor, and green interior paint gave way to white. The walkover seats from the bay are long gone, as are the frog eye marker lights. However, considering the car served as an office and dark room for some 30+ years, I’m not complaining. As is outlined in “Our Story” my wife Chantel and I now own the 1353, and have moved it to the pasture behind our house.

THE PLAN

Our plan is to return the 1353 to its as retired (1973) condition. We’ll try as often as possible to preserve the car intact. Other aspects will require restoration. The 1353 will have a historically accurate interior, with a few (a very few) subtle changes to allow some modern utility. The interior will be outfitted with period era SP artifacts. For example, we’ve already acquired a 1973 SP calendar for the wall, and a pair of working SP marker lamps live in the newly reinstalled lantern locker. The original electrical system will be restored. All exterior windows will be rebuilt, as most are rotten, broken, or both. New exterior paint will be necessary, but first both bay interiors will be rebuilt to remedy extensive water damage from leaking windows. We were very fortunate to come to know and individual who owns a C-30-5 caboose. His plans include gutting the car. I was able to remove the entire locker section from that donor car and reinstall it in 1353. I also obtained many interior trim items and accessories for eventual reinstallation in 1353. I’ve got feelers out, and a potential source for the proper trucks for our car. At this point, the plan is for static display of the 1353 on our property after it’s completed. However, I can say that I frequently consider what it would take to make the car operational. It’s a ‘more time AND money’ type scenario though. So for now, we’ll stick with the goal of historically accurate car positioned for static display.

Chantel built this website as a surprise to me. As a result, the initial progress on the car is documented primarily with photos. I’ll post periodic updates explaining what progress we make in the future. I’m especially interested in researching the history of the 1353, and the SP in general. I’d welcome any correspondence with retired SP trainmen, and their accounts of these cabooses. I have not located a photo of our car in service. If you have one, please let me know. If you are considering buying a caboose, or if you’re in the area and would like to see the 1353, once again, fell free to drop us a line.