Re: United States Potash Railroad

If it is the Death Valley Railroad caboose, it was a wooden caboose, possibly with a steel underframe (there are no truss rods visible in photos).... Built by Pacific Car & Foundry in 1916 as DVRR 100... while on the DVRR it apparently had three pairs of trucks... the first arch bar similar to the truck used on the hoppers, the second wood transom swing motion arch bar trucks similar to those used by the Carter Brothers, likely from one of the NWP cars, and the third a set of wood frame - pedistal style passenger car trucks, likely from one of two AC&F cars purchased from United Verdi and Pacific.

If its a wood body caboose we have to assume it was sheathed in steel, and it is possible that some of the apparent damage is a function of the wood frame failing or being damaged in an accident.

I note that on the DVRR it was not a side door car as the photos suggest it was at the end of its railroad service.

Randy Hees