Western Railroad Discussion > What's up with former ATSF caboose #101, now JFSX #101?

The former ATSF Railway (Santa Fe) caboose, No. 101, which has been in storage at the New Century AirCenter on the east side of Gardner, Kan., for more than 10 years appears to be ready for departure from the former naval air station facility.

I noticed the windowless caboose this morning had been moved from a nearby storage track to a business track adjacent to the switch yard, which is normally a departure track. It was attached to two outbound tank cars. I suspect the next time the BNSF Railway  local (Job 123) shows up, these three cars will vanish from New Century.

The only clue for the next destination for the caboose is a new reporting marker, JFSX 101. The marker looks freshly applied.  I do not know what those initials stand for. My reporting mark reference does not list them.

I've lived in Gardner nearly nine years and this is only the second time I've seen the caboose in a different location.

We had about 3 inches of fresh snow last night and that added to the scene with the old caboose. Maybe the old caboose will be nicely restored  in coming weeks and months. If it was going to be scrapped, I would have imagined it would have been done on site at New Century. 

I have no idea who has owned the caboose while it has been at New Century. It may have been the Johnson County Airport Commission, which operates and maintains the rail yard and track network at the air center. 

(Photos by Larry Byers) 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/20 11:27 by JoCoLB.

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Looks to be in pretty good shape, wish it was coming here.
JB

A  friend says the reporting marker is for JFS Railcar, Inc., of Independence, Mo. Would this be a scrapper? 

Looks like it had a nasty stove fire.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/20 15:42 by trainjunkie.

Looks like it burned?
Go

JoCoLB Wrote:
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> A  friend says the reporting marker is for JFS
> Railcar, Inc., of Independence, Mo. Would this be
> a scrapper? 

Possibly for John Salisbury, a rail car broker.

And the real ATSF number for this waycar is 999101.

Thanks for reminding me.
 

As I suspected, the ex-Santa Fe caboose,#101 was on the rear of the BNSF Railway 123 Job when it exited the New Century AirCenter mini-yard at 2:45 p.m. today, friday, Jan. 24, 2020.  (Video by Larry Byers) 

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I still have some New Century farewell photos of the old Santa Fe "crummiie..

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...as seen from a different angle...

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...another going-away shot...

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...motorists stopped for the crossing on U.S. 56 highway got an unexpected glimpse of the former ATSF caboose at the start of its farewell journey from the Gardner community.

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...one final look at ATSF #101 (at least at Gardner, KS).

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