Nostalgia & History > Waycar Wednesday - Out of a Job in Pocatello

No longer required thanks to FRED, 35+ UP system cabooses await their fate in Pocatello, Idaho.

Photographed in April 1985.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/16 08:35 by terrybaker.

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terrybaker Wrote:
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> No longer required thanks to FRED, 35+ UP system
> cabooses await their fate in Pocatello, Idaho.
>
> Photographed in April 1985.


Yep...Good old Fred, just had to run out a settle before the BLE did. Fred is single handily  responsible for what many know as "Pre '85 and Post '85."

 

Wow... Great photo catch! You don't see many on this subject! On a personal note, I can say that in 1984 to 1986, I made an effort to ride as many cabooses as possible before they were gone. I was mainly on branch lines of the BN and SP in Oregon. I also got to ride from N.Vancouver, B.C. up to Lilloet and back on the old PGE in 1986. (That was a good'n!) If you were nice and explained to the crews why you wanted to ride, most were quite cooperative and let you get on. Saying that you were previously a railroader and showing them a switch key didn't hurt either! The only time I was ever refused a ride was on the U.P. and that's the railroad that gave me my previous experience along with the switch key!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/16 15:48 by patd3985.

A few WP cabooses in there too.

Nice photo. Hate to see them gathered up for this particular reason. I rode many of them and cheerish the memories. We are fortunate many of them were distributed to several city parks.
Brian Stevens

Posted from iPhone

In studying this neat photo, it appears that the first caboose is lettered for the SIRR, Spokane International. I was not aware the UP had any for the SI at this late date. Kind of cool.

KC

GRNDMND Wrote:
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> In studying this neat photo, it appears that the
> first caboose is lettered for the SIRR, Spokane
> International. I was not aware the UP had any for
> the SI at this late date. Kind of cool.
>
> KC
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I lived in S. Idaho during those years and recall seeing SI cabooses on occasion right up until the end.  Here's a link to a recent posting that included an SI caboose I shot in Nampa in 1983.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,3946556,3946650#msg-3946650

GRNDMND Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In studying this neat photo, it appears that the
> first caboose is lettered for the SIRR, Spokane
> International. I was not aware the UP had any for
> the SI at this late date. Kind of cool.
>
> KC
=========================================
Just ran across a couple of detail shots of that first out SI caboose, which turns out to be No. C20.  Also recorded what I'm certain was the unofficial application of an SI logo stenciled on C20.  That home road pride just doesn't die. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/16 22:10 by terrybaker.

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Hello,   That UP/ SIRy caboose C-21 in your picture,  still exists.  It's repainted, and sitting at the Bonner County museum in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Craig Hanson
Vay, Idaho