High-Ball: An essay by Christian
When I heard we were going to buy a property with three cabooses, I was beyond excited. I love trains, so the idea of actually owning one was like a dream come true. I never imagined it would happen, but here we are!
My first memory of Caboose Falls is exploring RM 17 on our first day at the property. It was in pretty bad shape. The entry door had been damaged by vandals, and inside the caboose was a mess—there was trash everywhere, model trains were scattered everywhere, and there were mouse droppings on the bunk bed. To top it off, there was a big hole in the drywall with a snake skin hanging out! It was freezing inside the caboose that day, and I wasn’t sure what to think about the work ahead.
As we settled into Caboose Falls, one of the most exciting things for me was watching the CSX freight trains pass by. I love seeing what train will come next, and it never gets old. It’s one of the things I look forward to the most whenever we visit.
Over the past year, I’ve also been involved in some pretty cool projects like helping to clear the land around our cabooses. I spent a lot of time working on trails, clearing brush, rocks, and even some trees. I had to learn a lot about trail building, including how to use cuts, fills, and cribbing, to make sure the paths were safe for our visitors. It was hard work, especially in the heat of summer, but I took plenty of breaks and stayed hydrated to push through.
One of the most memorable moments with my family at Caboose Falls was our first night camping in the transfer caboose. I was amazed at how many trains passed. It was fun to get up in the middle of the night with my dad to watch them.
I’ve done a lot of fun things at Caboose Falls this year. Explored the ravines, played in the stream, biked on the trail, and collected railroad spikes from the old rail-bed. It’s also been fun to spot other cabooses as we travel. I’m looking forward to inviting friends from my model train club, the Mod Squad to see our cabooses.
If someone were thinking about taking on a project like this, I would tell them not to be afraid of the challenge. It’s been a huge part of my life this past year, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.