Re: Caboose 1006(1511)

AZfarmer Wrote:
=======================================================
> What a amazing find that is!
>
> Any idea why a
> caboose would have an emergency cord hole in the
> end walls? Dispite being cracked into three
> pieces, we've repaired the two end facias for
> either preservation or reuse:
>

Bob .... those holes were for a signal rope, which could be run from the rear end up to the engine cab which had a trip bell attached. Used for signalling betwixt the Conductor and Engineer. I have not seen any photos where this was actually used on freight trains, although it is certainly possible. It was, however, used regularly on passenger trains on a lot of railroads. ---- It may have been used on freights during cases of obscured visibilty such as blizzards.

Skip Luke
Switchman (ret): Grand Canyon Railway;
Engineer (ret): Georgetown Loop RR Inc., Sumpter Valley Ry., Monticello & Sangamon Valley;
Dispatcher(ret): Illinois Central, White Pass & Yukon, Burlington Northern Ry.
Mariner, Musician, Miner