Ever seen a subway car cruising down the highway? Our weekend at Caboose Falls started with exactly that—an unexpected railfanning moment that set the tone for a weekend of family chaos, freight trains, and a daring cleanup mission: dislodging a decades-old heap of rusted metal from atop the falls.
Railfanning Before Arrival: A BART Surprise
Our Caboose Falls weekend began with a railfanning surprise before we’d even arrived. There it was—a sleek, futuristic BART train car, not on tracks but on the back of a truck, gliding down the highway like a misplaced sci-fi prop.
Car #4668Y was eastbound—probably returning to its birthplace at the Plattsburgh, NY factory. It’s part of BART’s Fleet of the Future, the long-awaited replacement for the system’s 1970s-era workhorses. Spotting one on the road felt like catching a rare bird mid-migration.
We barely had time to grab a camera, but we got the shot—a blur of progress racing past, setting the tone for a weekend where trains (and a few other surprises) would take center stage.
Family Fun: Digging, Trains, and Minecraft Adventures
This weekend at Caboose Falls was extra special, as we had some important guests—my father-in-law and my nephew. We spent the day immersed in the beauty of Caboose Falls, watching trains roll by, playing in the stream, and enjoying a delicious lunch inside PLE 565. The boys had a blast digging a hole, big enough to climb into, behind the atrium. They were fully in Minecraft mode, pretending they were adventuring in their own world and exploring new terrain.
Property Maintenance: Small Tasks, Big Impact
It wasn’t all fun and games, there was work to be done. We spent some time washing windows in the atrium, blowing leaves off the trails, and picking up bits of trash that have surfaced throughout the property.
Though these tasks may seem small, they’re part of a bigger effort to keep the property looking its best. There’s a quiet satisfaction that comes with maintaining the space—not just for ourselves, but for anyone who comes to enjoy Caboose Falls.
Trailblazing: Carving a New Path to Standing Rock
Christian was busy with something a bit more ambitious. Mattock in hand, he began carving out a new trail—one that will eventually connect the stream area to a peaceful spot we call Standing Rock which is near the smaller ravine. When his new trail is finished, it will lead us to the perfect place for a summer picnic: a quiet little corner of the woods where we can take a break and enjoy the sounds of trains and nature.
Clearing the Ravine: The Great Pipe Removal Mission
Decades ago, when the culvert pipe beneath the old trolley line was replaced, the workers simply discarded the damaged metal pipe by tossing it into the ravine. At the time, the property was nothing more than vacant land, and no one considered the long-term impact of this decision.
Time had turned the abandoned pipes into relics—rusted, jagged, and utterly out of place against the tranquility of the falls. I like to think Father Ed tolerated them like a bad neighbor, puffing his cigar and shaking his head at the irony. This weekend, we became the wrecking crew they’d waited decades for.
We gathered as a family and hiked up the ravine, following the cascading falls to the top. There, we began assessing the situation. Letting gravity do the work by rolling the pipes down the ravine seemed like the simplest plan. The first section of pipe was wedged beneath dirt and rocks, but after some effort, we managed to work it free. With a few solid heaves, it tumbled down the falls and came to a sudden stop when it crashed against a fallen tree.
The second, much larger section of pipe proved more challenging, but after some digging and creative maneuvering, we finally got it moving. It careened end over end down the ravine, making a spectacular racket as it went—until it too was halted by a fallen tree.
Both sections now rest about halfway down the ravine. When time permits, we’ll return with a chainsaw and some rope to finish the job. Eventually, these old pipe segments will make their way to the lower end of the property—where they can quietly rust away, out of sight and out of mind.
Railside Symphony: Steel Giants & Friendly Toots
Freight trains are such a huge part of the atmosphere here at Caboose Falls. Sunday afternoon was filled with plenty of action on the railroad, and we had front-row seats to the show. From trackside, we watched as freight trains passed by, their engines roaring and wheels pounding along the tracks.
I couldn’t help but notice that some of the railroad crews seem to have started recognizing us. Their toots of the horn sound a little friendlier these days—a small gesture, but one that brings us big smiles.
Closing Thoughts from a Noisy, Perfect Weekend
What a weekend! We checked off big wins—like finally removing those stubborn old pipes and starting work on a new trail. The kids dove deep into their real Minecraft adventure, and the trains? Well, their horn blasts might as well be our personal soundtrack by now. Every project, every laugh, every toot-toot from the rails—these small moments are the magic that bring Caboose Falls to life.