Western Railroad Discussion > Is this an old drover's caboose?

We spent 2 weeks in New Mexico and had a great time. Other than the Clovis-Vaughn BNSF line, we saw only 2 other trains besides Amtrak. Both were NB at Folsom on the BNSF. First was a manifest followed by an empty coal 2x2. Saw Amtrak between Raton and Lamy a total of 4 times while driving (no pics). Hard to just pull over and grab a shot when you're pulling a travel trailer and often no or minimal shoulder to use.

Did end up with a few shots anyway. Heading north from Folsom, right out of town was an old Burlington boxcar adorned with either a Christmas Star or an antenna of some sort. Several miles down the road was a windmill with this old caboose on the side of a hill. No traffic on this road so I stopped, shoulder or not. Couldn't pass this one up.

Last shot of the trip was in Lubbock, TX on the BNSF. Here we have the UP 7891 changing crews heading up what started out as RWNMSS-20 (Winona, MN-Amarillo,TX-Sand) on the UP. Ultimate destination is the West Texas & Lubbock RR which heads south off the BNSF just a short distance from where I grabbed the shot. I think the crew van for the outgoing crew for the WTLC is the black pickup in the foreground. There were also 2 RailcrewExpress vans parked there for the UP crew(s). Maybe another UP-crewed train coming through. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo.

1. Would this be a plug-door boxcar?
2. Old wood caboose - drover's or not?
3. Crew change in Lubbock before heading south on the West Texas & Lubbock with solid set of gons loaded with sand

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And here's one from today at home. Empty TILX hoppers destined to Texas Lehigh at Buda, TX. Headed up by a Dash-9.

Wish I could take a road trip (without towing a travel trailer) along Highway 84 from Sweetwater, TX to Vaughn, NM. So many pieces of old rolling stock being used for a multiplicity of things. ATSF covered hoppers, old ATSF reefers, SP boxcars, not sure what else. Sort of a Route 66 of old railcars.

Take care and hope y'all have enjoyed this Texan's visit to New Mexico.

Mike

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PALuvR Wrote:
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PAL,
>
> 1. Would this be a plug-door boxcar?

Nope sliding door car with either a 6 or 7 foot door. Note the tracks at top and bottom to the right of the opening. It is also a 40 foot car. While some were build with plug doors, it was not all that common.

> 2. Old wood caboose - drover's or not?

Looks like a CB&Q 3 or 4 window way car (the Q term for caboose). Some of these cars lasted until the BN merger and some even received green paint. Some of these cars were going on 70+ years old.

J.

And for all you R/C car fans out there:

Just had to add this non-RR-related shot. Watched a race at the Los Alamos R/C Overlook Raceway. Loved the race and grabbed this one, what I thought, was a pretty neat (lucky) shot.

Mike

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J.Ferris Wrote:
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> PALuvR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> PAL,
> >
> > 1. Would this be a plug-door boxcar?
>
> Nope sliding door car with either a 6 or 7 foot
> door. Note the tracks at top and bottom to the
> right of the opening. It is also a 40 foot car.
> While some were build with plug doors, it was not
> all that common.
>
> > 2. Old wood caboose - drover's or not?
>
> Looks like a CB&Q 3 or 4 window way car (the Q
> term for caboose). Some of these cars lasted until
> the BN merger and some even received green paint.
> Some of these cars were going on 70+ years old.
>
> J.

Sorry but the plug-door comment was in jest!

Mike

Looks like a Santa Fe 1000 class crummy. wag216

PALuvR Wrote:
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>
> 3. Crew change in Lubbock before heading south on
> the West Texas & Lubbock with solid set of gons
> loaded with sand

Anyone know if in fact it was a UP crew that brought train to the WT&L. BNSF provides haulage for UP between Amarillo and Lubbock but does UP have right to provide its own crews on unit trains? Who is sand shipper in Winona or did train originate on CP(DME)? Assume train moved via Proviso, Nevada, IA. to KC and thence the Golden State.

Anyone have the particulars?

Mexrail