We did the restoration work on the 1005 using all the plans and information outlined in the previous posts. Starting with the picture of 1005 I took in 1957 that was unattributed in Joe Weigman's post to now I have been associated with the 1005. That picture taken in back of Western Colorado Power Co.'s office building, now the Information Center at the entrance to Silverton, shows a car that had never been upgraded from link and pin couplers. Its use as a storage shed from the teens up to about 1960 was what saved it. It had sat derelict in the SN's ownership and its fate was doubtful until the power company acquired it.
The car had its ups and downs under chamber of commerce ownership. It was in 3 different locations during chamber times. By the time the historical society got it about 20 years ago, the 1005 had seen no actual restoration work. We took it to Durango with the intention that the D&S would do the work but after 10 years of fund raising efforts, and a change in direction by the railroad, the caboose came back to Silverton. We got the contract to do the restoration and my business partner, Loren Lew, did most of the work. John Braun and his Mammoth Locomotive Works subcontracted the under carriage and related steel work. We didn't have enough funding to make it road worthy so we came as close as we could. Most of the caboose that had original woodwork was either exact to original plans or was extremely close. We followed the original plans where possible. The interior as shown in Jerry Day's photos is a conjecture on our part plus information, such as paint lines, that were on the car. The interior color is accurate to the first color found on the woodwork. The 1005 now sits under a protective roof and will be rolled out for viewing this summer, maybe, next to the Archive building which is next to the county courthouse on Greene St. in Silverton.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2020 01:30PM by Fritz Klinke.
