Every caboose has a story to tell. Some narratives are rich with detail, while others, like that of our Reserve Mining Caboose RM17, are shrouded in mystery. This enigmatic car, now residing at Caboose Falls, boasts a history that raises as many questions as it answers. Here’s what we know — and what we still hope to uncover.
Built for the Reserve Mining Company
RM17 is a steel cupola caboose that once served on the Reserve Mining Railroad in northern Minnesota. This 47-mile rail line was dedicated to transporting crude taconite ore from the mines in Babbitt to a processing plant and shipping port on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Silver Bay. The ore was primarily used in steel production by Armco and Republic Steel. Designed for rugged utility, the caboose was unique in its lack of traditional side windows, featuring only those in its cupola and a single lavatory window. This design minimized vulnerability in the harsh environment of the iron ore operations. Additionally, RM17 was equipped with headlights, enabling it to serve as the leading car when trains were pushed in reverse. Power for its lights and other electrical needs came from a generator mounted on one of its axles.
Although no definitive records have surfaced, it is strongly suspected that RM17 was built by the International Car Company of Kenton, Ohio. This company was also responsible for crafting our P&LE Bay Window Caboose, making an interesting connection.
A Mysterious Transition
After decades of service on the Reserve Mining Railroad, RM17’s history takes a murky turn. Around the time the Reserve Mining caboose fleet was mothballed, RM17, along with several sister cars, ended up in St. Louis, Missouri. From here, the story fades to black. Who owned the caboose during this period? What purpose did it serve? These are questions we have yet to answer.
What we do know is that by 1996, RM17 had made its way to New Castle, Pennsylvania with large windows cut into both sides of the car. It’s new owner, The New Castle Industrial Railroad, renumbered the caboose to KJR 5 and had it shipped to its Kiski Junction Railroad in Schenley, PA. From here the journey was anything but straightforward.
The Wayward Journey
Conrail’s handling of RM17’s move to Shenley, PA, resulted in an unexpected detour. Instead of heading directly to Schenley, the railroad mistakenly routed the caboose to New Jersey. Remarkably, during this misadventure, Kiski Junction staff actually spotted RM17 rolling along the opposite side of the Kiski River, visually close yet entirely out of reach. Efforts to halt its progress were fruitless, officials at Conrail insisted that the caboose finish its unplanned trip before being sent back on track.
- Special thanks to Charlie Bowyer for providing images from his collection that show us RM17 at Conway Yard.
Arrival at Caboose Falls
By the time RM17 returned to New Castle, the Kiski Junction Railroad had opted not to add the caboose to its fleet. This decision marked a turning point in RM17’s journey and introduced Rev. Schleicher, the visionary founder of Caboose Falls, into the story. Schleicher, who had sought the addition of a cupola caboose to his collection, negotiated a deal with the New Castle Industrial Railroad. While the exact details of the arrangement remain unclear, it’s believed that the railroad received two of Schleicher’s P&LE cabooses—P&LE 513 and P&LE 516—in exchange for RM17. With this trade, RM17 embarked on a new chapter of its life, finding its permanent home at Caboose Falls.
Questions That Remain
Despite its fascinating journey, RM17 continues to guard some of its secrets:
- Who owned RM17 between its time at Reserve Mining and its arrival in New Castle? The gap in its ownership history remains unexplored.
- When was the interior of RM17 removed? The interior of this car was missing when it arrived at Caboose Falls leaving us to wonder about the timing and reasons behind this alteration.
- Why were extra-large windows cut into RM17’s sides? These modifications are a striking departure from the caboose’s original design, but their purpose and origin remain unknown.
A Living History
As we continue to piece together the history of RM17, we invite you to join us in celebrating the unique legacy of this remarkable caboose. If you have any information, photographs, or stories related to RM17, please reach out. Together, we can ensure that its history, however mysterious, is preserved for future generations.
Gallery
The Old Hometown
During its operation, RM17 was based in Babbitt, Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Babbitt was established in 1944 to support the development of a taconite mine by Armco and Republic Steel. The company town was built near the eastern border of the Mesabi Iron Range, while the city of Silver Bay was also constructed at the same time along Lake Superior. Taconite was mined near Babbitt, then transported by rail to Silver Bay for processing before being shipped to industrial cities around the Great Lakes.
