Re: Good looking cabooses

05635 started life as stock car 5635. It was left in Chama after abandonment in 1970. It was purchased from the scrapper by Scenic Rys. In 1976 they rebuilt it into a caboose for use on an "overflow" train built for days when the regular train was sold out. This train was based up at Cumbres and used the helper locomotive for a run from Cumbres to Sublette and return. As none of the other cars had restroom facilities, 05635 served that purpose. In converting the car, the side sills were cut at the ends of the car to create the boarding steps. That compromised the structure of the car and as a result the body was constantly sinking in over the center sills.

At best it was "funky" car to ride in. We sold it at a rather cheap rate. If you came up with 10 buddies, the rate was less than $10 more than the coach rate.