Renovating an old caboose is no small task, and our latest workday proved that in spades. This time, the job was to rip out all the drywall inside the old Reserve Mining Caboose (RM17). Along the way, we stumbled upon a few surprises—some more welcome than others.
The day began with the usual routine— breakfast in 565, a little train watching from the porch and then off to work.
The Drywall Comes Down
Crowbars in hand, we dove into the task of tearing down the drywall in RM17. Almost immediately, we began seeing the unpleasant presence of mold. The back of the drywall panels were covered with it. We knew there were leaks, but the mold proved the problem was a more extensive than expected. The worst of the leaks was right beneath the old smokestack. The opening had been patched with a metal plate, but over time, rust has eaten through, letting rainwater drip inside.
As if that were not enough, it also became clear that mice had taken up residence in the walls and ceiling. Everywhere we looked, there were small nests of shredded material, droppings, or insulation that had been chewed through. What a mess!
Hidden Treasures
It wasn’t all bad news, though. We did uncover a couple of historic gems along the way. One was the original junction box that powered the caboose’s old restroom lighting. The other was the car’s electrical distribution box—completely hidden behind drywall. Unfortunately, the distribution box had suffered too much damage to be saved. Its sides had been bent and smashed, no doubt to fit it behind the wall, leaving it in pretty rough shape.
The Cupola: Not Quite Done
We’d hoped to finish removing all the drywall in one go, but there was one area we couldn’t quite reach: the cupola. This elevated space at the top of the caboose was tricky to access, and with all the dust in the air, we decided to call it a day. The cupola will have to wait for our next workday.
What’s Next?
There’s still mold to clean up, rodents to evict, and leaks to fix, but we’re well on our way to giving RM17 the renovation it deserves.