518
We’ve finally cleared a path, end to end, through 518. The car’s floor was littered with old moldy magazines, broken glass, and other debris. Working through all of this has been slow because mixed with the mess are the occasional photographs and documents linked to the history of our cabooses and the Caboose Falls site.
Most of the problems in 518 are the result of vandalism which occurred before we bought the property. The vandals ransacked the car and scattered the contents of closets and a filing cabinet where Schleicher stored his collection of railroadiana. It has been disheartening to see so much of his collection destroyed.
The majority of his collection was related to his interest in Amtrak, with some items dating back to the railroad’s inception, but there were also primary documents from historic roads like the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) and the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE). Unfortunately, the damage has been so severe that very few of these documents could be preserved.
With the floor cleared, we can begin to assess the roof leaks and start drying out the car.
17
Nature is everywhere at Caboose falls, even inside our cabooses. The 17 has been graciously hosting more than a few mice, several birds, and possibly a snake! All have been evicted… hopefully.
The lingering clutter in this car has been removed. It mostly consisted of framed pictures of locomotives, railroad posters, and a few old calendars. Next up for 17 will be drywall repair.
Small but important: The boys have gained access to the cupola!
565
Last week, 565 played host to not one, but two exciting Caboose Falls birthday celebrations. The event was nothing short of spectacular. Our guests enjoyed hot cocoa, tea and an array of delicious desserts. The unique setting made for a truly memorable afternoon.
Railfanning
We watched our first train from track level at the base of the ravine. The roaring locomotives and the shaking ground under our feet made for an exciting experience. Most of the weekend traffic was heading west, including coal trains and a few mixed freights. There was also an unusually short eastbound intermodal train.