|
|
|
The Rahway Valley's 'Other' Caboose | ||||
|
The
Rahway Valley purchased their eight wheel caboose from the
Lackawanna Railroad in 1937. The caboose was 32 feet long and had a
steel under-frame. The caboose’s long wheelbase leaf spring truck
assured a smooth ride. It was pretty nice digs for the conductor to
work his wheel reports. The caboose’s coal stove was a good place to
heat up a cup of coffee. Rumor had it that #102 was not the only
caboose the Rahway Valley ever had. Some have hinted at a #101 that
was used much earlier. A flat car had carried that number and was
reported to have rusted away in the weeds, a supposed left over from
the time of original construction. The flat car notes are sketchy,
and nothing concrete has come to light so far. As to a previous
caboose, nothing has come up about it either. As far as we know,
#102 was the only hack on the RV.
But, Number
102 did have a follower after all. #102 had gone to
scrap years (supposedly burnt either by vandals or intentionally)
before.
As word
got out that the Rahway Valley Railroad was open to allowing rail
enthusiast space to work on privately owned railroad equipment,
mainly O. Winston Link’s ex-Rutland combine. Link’s wooden car had
occupied a siding next to the engine house for some time, undergoing
restoration.
A fan had purchased an old Central Railroad of New
Jersey wood caboose. #913, I’m guessing originally #913 - -,
as these cars were numbered (numbers #91155 - 91394). The caboose
was built on the bones of a USRA boxcar from the early teens, and
rode arch-bar trucks. The caboose had been “modernized” with a steel
under-frame and its original board sheathing had been plywood
covered.
The caboose turned up in Cranford at the CNJ’s yard and was
to move to the siding at Kenilworth. When the morning run was made to
Aldene for the interchange freight, the
conductor got notice to pick up the old way car. Just for fun, it
was decided to couple the red caboose to the end of the string of
cars and run like in the old days. The crew got into the idea and
the red CNJ car was run as the Rahway Valley’s own. The fun lasted a
few times and the car made its way in with Link’s combine where its
new owner could begin restoration.
We wonder where this car is today. Hopefully the caboose is
in fresh paint, dreaming of its days as a CNJ and more importantly, as a
Rahway Valley
caboose. |
