The plywood sides are from a 1950s (or thereabout) rebuild.

Unfortunately, the purchaser of the caboose seems to think that he won't be able to repair the trucks fast enough to get it to move in 60 days.

Unless we can get an extension, it looks like he is planning to cancel the purchase and the caboose will be destroyed. I sent a message to the Court Receiver about a time extension. They appear to favor plans that involve the pieces NOT being scrapped, but 60 days isn't long enough.

Apparently, people who are willing to lend us the brasses are concerned that the rusty axles might rip up their bearings. (why can't I just go polish the axles?). The purchaser also doesn't seem to like the track it would get put on (which would be a challenge to put it down), and it does appear to be difficult to get the caboose back there if this is a "roll-on-roll-off" situation.


He thinks we can get permission to place it on a better track if we rebuild the brake system, but he seems to think that could take 6 months.


The only other alternative would be if we an find a different spot to place the caboose, where the condition of the brakes was not important, and a truck can winch it on and off a trailer onto the tracks. Then, we could just get the wood-blocks made for the bearings and roll it off there.


So yeah, so much for just replacing the brasses.

it is a little depressing, because its all starting to feel like a wasted effort.

So yeah, so much for just replacing the brasses.

it is a little depressing, because its all starting to feel like a wasted effort.
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I hate to hear that.

Its sad to think another piece of history may be scrapped.

Well, it looks like the most extra time I could get was 90 days, which apparently isn't enough time to do the necessary work to move it where the purchaser wants to. I'm still not clear on why all of this other work needs to be done to it. It seems like the main issue is that the original location the Black River & Western was going to have us parked required that we have a more functional piece.

The "new" track they were going to let us move the caboose onto is in Lambertville, but it is apparently in a location difficult to roll-off the caboose.

Still, I haven't seen why we can't still try to get the caboose in there, unless there is more to the story I don't know.


So, assuming this things brakes aren't in the best shape, is there a way to roll it slowly, in a controlled fashion, that is safe?

Does anyone know of a perhaps more open space we can put this caboose just to get it off Pemberton's property?

It's a shame you can't move it to Winslow Junction They have lots of room there....

I don't see a brake stand in the picture, but you could put a come-along on the platform and hook it to the brake chain to apply the brake. In this case I would think stopping it would be a cinch compared to making it roll. Don't try to keep it from rolling from the ground, and put a 4x4 across the tracks and let the cab move a couple feet at a time until you have a feel of things..
Charlie

ngauger Wrote:It's a shame you can't move it to Winslow Junction They have lots of room there....

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone at the SRNJ. There is a some large amount of space on the CMSL, and so I've asked the people I know there about it already.

It seems like if we can find an empty field or something, that might be enough.

Well, time for a little bit of an update. For a while it was looking pretty bleak, as organizations would seem to have space, but the details wouldn't pan out.

There appears to be one promising location, but it is somewhat distant. The caboose has been offered space for free (provided work is done 1-2 weekends a month) in Topton, Pa, on the East Penn Railway.

The primary concern now is the cost of shipping the caboose there. I don't know what that would be, but I assume tolls and possible oversized load-related costs would be a problem. How much does it generally cost to truck a railcar like this?



There is also an attempt to see if Pemberton will rent us the ground that the caboose is already sitting on, but I doubt that will be the case, as one of the underlying political issues is that Pemberton Township wanted to trade the station's land for some County property, and the county is unwilling to take on the liability of the trains on the property.

Its all been a pain, since I'm also finishing up my Masters thesis, and so its just been bad timing for everything! Its all gotta be in by the 14th, so, its almost over!

Charlie B Wrote:With that project I am sure you earned the rank. How about a little more information and pictures if you can. I know Larry and I are interested, and I am sure many more are.
Charlie

Well, I uploaded most of my project pictures to RRpicturearchives.net-

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As for a history, normally I enjoy typing it all out, but this site sums it up a little better. Technically, this page is on CNJ 91197, which is a caboose of the same class as our 91291, and both went through all the same rebuilding programs

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Topton is a little closer to me.. so at least I may someday see the caboose.. Still too far to volunteer to help restore her though

Best of luck on everyhtign!! let us know how you do on your thesis!!!!!