Nostalgia & History > Caboose stove use in summer?

Having lit, maintained and enjoyed the heat of a caboose stove in winter time, a thought arose in my head tonight.
Since the stoves were not only for heating, but cooking as well, I'm wondering if that was an issue for crews back in the day during hot weather? A stove can keep a cab quite toasty in the winter, I'd have to think the heat would be unbearable in the summer.
I suppose they could eat cold food in the summer, but I know many men had to have their coffee no matter the season.

Has anyone heard or read stories about this issue that surely arose every summer, everywhere?

Posted from Android

What a neat question…and I am also interested in hearing some of the old head responses and stories.

I’ve only ever used a crummy in the yards for industry work or transfers. We didn’t live in them, didn’t eat or use the bathroom in them….but we did light the oil stoves in the winter…it would be so hot inside that we’d have to open all the doors and windows. Couldn’t imagine having a stove going in summer.

Old school glass thermos would keep coffee piping hot for 12+ hours. Maybe that’s what they did in summer.

I rode waycars in all 9 of my Santa Fe years, and I can't recall ever firing up a stove in anything but really cold weather...

Lance

My CN caboose had oil stoves at each end (cold Canadian winters) and an electric hot plate that ran off the batteries.