[RITSlist] Fwd: Rock Island Caboose Question

[RJ Casares]

John and group,

At the 2003 RITS convention, I asked about the RITS financial
grant program, with the Coupland Texas caboose in mind.

It is an external braced model, riding trucks that are marked
CRI&P. The windows had been covered with expanded metal,
to prevent vandalism. Wasp nests were everywhere so we did
not get too close when we were taking our photos.

I believe that the RITS approved an application for another one
of these cars in Sandia, Texas. This car was externally restored
and painted black, red, and yellow. Imagine a caboose at your
local McDonalds restaurant and there you are. Sandia is north
of Alice and east of Orange Grove, Texas

The biggest problem I had was finding anyone who could tell
me who was responsible for the depot. I wrote to the
Coupland ISD and left one or two messages with the school
district HQ, and never heard from anyone else about this.
I'm very glad that this caboose will finally get some attention.
Coupland is pretty small, and if you blink three times, you've
missed it.

Now maybe we can find someone who can help us stabilize
the Fairbanks Morse 101 speeder that's slowly going to rust.

Robert Casares
San Antonio, Texas
Texas Superintendent - Katy Railroad Historical Society




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jmatrow at juno.com>
To: <danny at dsmithconsulting.com>
Cc: <caboose9 at beyondbb.com>; <ritslist at simpson.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: [RITSlist] Fwd: Rock Island Caboose Question


> Danny,
>
> No Rock Island caboose has been reported in Coupland, Texas.
>
> I am copying Roger Kirkpatrick who has the Texas caboose list and will
> probably reply if he has information.
>
> Did you check the frame underneath for a number?
> How about inside above the doors? It may have been painted over.
>
> John Matrow
> Wichita KS
>
>
>> > From: Danny Smith <danny at dsmithconsulting.com>
>> > Date: January 17, 2008 12:52:16 PM CST
>> > To: Dick Tinder <dick.tinder at simpson.edu>
>> > Subject: Re: Rock Island Freight / Cabooses
>> >
>> > I have looked for a number on the Caboose, but can not locate
>> one.
>> >
>> > I understand that the caboose was obtained from a historical group
>>
>> > in Austin, TX whose plans to restore it had fallen through.  It
>> was
>> > brought to Coupland by the railroad and placed on rails next to
>> the
>> > depot for the Bicentennial in 1976.  It remains where it was
>> > placed, but needs a large amount of work.  I am working with the
>>
>> > Coupland Community Organization (CCO) to restore the Depot and
>> > Caboose.
>> >
>> > I understand that the box car was converted to a Caboose by Rock
>>
>> > Island between 1938 to 1944.  They converted about 180 of these
>> > 1915-era Class B-2 boxcars to cabooses.  It is thought that Rock
>>
>> > Island converted these cabooses to support the war efforts.
>> >
>> > This is mostly what information I have concerning the Caboose.  If
>>
>> > you have more and can share it, or point me in the right
>> direction,
>> > I would really appreciate it.
>> >
>> > Thanks again.
>> >
>> > Danny D. Smith
>> >
>> >
>> > > Wednesday, January 16, 2008 5:29 PM
>> > >
>> > > Mr. Tinder,
>> > >
>> > > I have been hired by the local civil organization as Architect
>> and
>> > > consultant to produce "as built" drawings for a Rock Island
>> freight
>> > > car / Caboose. I have reviewed all the photos available and
>> found
>> > > a couple that look like the one we are planning to renovate. I
>> can
>> > > not find a number for the Caboose and was wondering if you
>> could
>> > > direct me where to look for the number. Also I am looking for
>> > > history of the Caboose. I have enclosed a photo of the Caboose.
>> > >
>> > > Thanks for any assistance.
>> > >
>> > > Danny D. Smith
>
>
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