Western Railroad Discussion > Shafter Sub Sunday: Derelict caboose and containers.

I recently did some repairs to my van and needed to give it a decent test drive, this afternoon I headed west to Delle, Utah to see if anything was fixing to come by.  As I drove up the dirt road to a good spot to see trains I was surprised to see an old bay window caboose (UP25821) sitting right in the middle of the Rowley branch which heads towards the US Magnesium plant. I have no clue what it was doing blocking a realtively used branch. It's wheels and the rail around them were shiny indicating that it showed up very recently. The cabose itself had cobwebs on the brakes and clear signs that it has been sitting around a lot. Oddly the last picture on rrpicturearchives shows it on the same line with windows intact.  I confess, since no one was around and the radio was quiet I did snap a quick picture inside, though evidence suggests I'm among the less destructive visitors this 44 year old caboose has seen.

I waited around a while reading a book until a train approached, a westbound container&car train. A work train had been picking up ties on the main for a while so there were more trains behind it, unfortunately a thunder storm rolled in forcing me and my 20 year old 2wd minivan off the dirt and back onto the freeway. I stopped at Cargill to see the tie train, I'll post a photo below. While driving back to Salt Lake I spotted a westbound coal train, probably headed to Valmy.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/23 21:33 by Paniolo_man.

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Here's that tie train pushed by one of Relco's poor mutilated SD40s

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I remember seeing that one out there recently and it is also on Google Maps/Earth. The only thing I can think of is if for whatever reason they go west of the wye, and reverse their train down the west leg all the way down to the plant. Maybe they prefer the conductor to ride a caboose instead of ride the shove for the several long miles it is back to the plant. When they are done they leave the caboose there and take the east leg of the wye back to Salt Lake.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/23 21:43 by okcrr.

shoving platform

dan Wrote:
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> shoving platform

Sheesh, if UPRR is using this thing on the regular, they should procure some new cabooses so their employees can ride in something a little nicer than a spider shack on wheels.

She's a beauty.

Paniolo_man Wrote:
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> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > shoving platform
>
> Sheesh, if UPRR is using this thing on the
> regular, they should procure some new cabooses so
> their employees can ride in something a little
> nicer than a spider shack on wheels.

the guy is supposed to be on the platform, on many cabooses everything is welded shut, you cannot open the door

Imagine the whoppers told in that relic of awesome times!

Chuck

Thanks for tracking it down and for the interior photo. Back in 1979 UP was so proud of this caboose they put it on display for a Family Days open house.  Sad to see it in such poor shape today...how the mighty have fallen.

1  UP 25821   7 June 1979   East Los Angeles, CA 

Ron 

 

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Paniolo_man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > shoving platform
>
> Sheesh, if UPRR is using this thing on the
> regular, they should procure some new cabooses so
> their employees can ride in something a little
> nicer than a spider shack on wheels.


That would require spending money which would come out of the managers bonuses, it will never happen.
 

It's a shoving platform that gives some protection during lightning strikes. As I remember it's the only long
shove on that particular Job.
And a comment for a bit down the road, "UP get out of Savage's way!!"

Out

In our corner of the UP world, riding the side of a car on an excessive shove can result in an 8 hour penalty claim. They have to provide the shoving platform, even though you don't have to use it.

They make the interiors inaccessible so they don't have to maintain any appliances within. Probably cheaper to lock or weld the doors than strip everything out.

Posted from Android

Nice pics and awesome video of that UP freight haulin' butt! It's sad how that caboose is, and it's sad that's how most railroad rolling stock is, I hate it!