The Strange Story of Sumpter Valley Caboose #4 / U.S.A. Caboose #909
| September 26, 2022 05:36PM |
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I have been trying to piece together the anecdotal info that I had on Sumpter Valley Caboose #4 / U.S.A. Caboose #909. Putting it together was a little like working a Rubik’s Cube. The pieces of the puzzle are in the Notes & References. Here it is:
Numbers: USA 909 (WP&YR); Sumpter Valley 4
Type: Cupola Caboose
Builder: Union Pacific Railway [1] [2]
Year Built: 1880 [1]
Remarks: Originally, Utah & Northern Ry. #71. [3] Re-numbered to 1621 in 1885 to conform to Union Pacific system-wide numbering. [4] Transferred to Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Ry. in 1889 (OSL&UN #1621). Stored at Pocatello, Idaho from 1890 to 1896. [5] Transferred to Oregon Short Line R.R. in March 1897. Sold to Sumpter Valley Ry., either in June 1897 [6] or in 1903. [7] Not used by the S.V. Ry. until 1909, at which time it was assigned number 4. [8] Purchased by the U.S. Army in 1943. Destroyed by fire in 1945.
Notes & References:
[1] 24 Railway World, No. 50 (December 11, 1880), at page 1183, at, [babel.hathitrust.org] (Jan. 3, 2022) (“The Omaha Republican says: … Omaha shops … work that has been done and in progress … 2 narrow gauge way cars for the Utah & Northern …”). Of the eight large U.&N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses, 66-69 had been built by the Ohio Falls Car Mfg. Co. in 1879, 70-71 were built by the U.P. Ry. in 1880, and 72-73 were built by the U.&N. Ry. itself in 1883.
[2] From July 1, 1862 until December 31, 1879, it was the Union Pacific Rail Road. From January 1, 1880 to January 31, 1898, it was the Union Pacific Railway. Since February 1, 1898, it has been the Union Pacific Railroad.
[3] As set forth in the following note, U.&N. Ry. Caboose #1621 eventually became U.S. Army Caboose #909. This car had been one of eight large U.&N. Ry. cabooses, which originally had been ##66-73. By 1885, only seven of these large cabooses remained. The initial 1885 plan included re-numbering the remaining seven cabooses from 66~73 to 1616-1622, collapsing the new sequence to eliminate the un-occupied number that corresponded to the disposed-of car. However, subsequent rosters suggest that the initial plan was not completely followed. The collapsing was not done, the new sequence still retained the un-occupied number, and each large caboose thereby retained its original last digit. Thus, 66~73 became 1616~1623 (retaining one un-occupied number), and 71 became 1621, retaining its original last digit. See, 9 Official Railway Equipment Guide, No. 1 (June 1893), page 92, at, [books.google.com] (Sept, 24, 2022), “Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Ry. (Narrow Gauge), ‘U.&No. Caboose’” (highest car number = 1623).
[4] By 1894, Caboose #1621 was the only remaining former U.&N. Ry. caboose that was still on narrow gauge trucks and that was not a dinky. Out of the 11 narrow gauge cabooses in 1894, one was a dinky and nine had been converted to standard gauge. In 1887, the U.&N. Ry. had converted 12 of its narrow-gauge cabooses to standard gauge. Rudnick, Ron (March 17, 2015). Re: Eight wheel Caboose on C&Sng? 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1893 (March 17, 2015), at, [c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com] (Sept. 25, 2022) (“September 1887: 12 caboose changed to broad gauge”). The numbers of these 12 converted cabooses were 1604-1615. Rudnick, Ron (March 18, 2015). Re: Eight wheel Caboose on C&Sng? 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1810 (March 18, 2015), at, [c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com] (Sept. 24, 2022), #1604-1615. By 1899, nine of these converted cabooses still existed. 14 Official Railway Equipment Register, No. 10 (March 1899), page 145 ([Standard gauge] Caboose, N.G. Bodies = nine (9) cars [[i]by 1899: ##600-608[/i]]). Therefore, as of 1894, at least nine of these conversions to standard gauge still existed. Also, as of 1894, only 11 former U.&N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses remained, including the at least nine that were converted to standard gauge. The number range of all 11 cabooses was 1601~1621. 10 Official Railway Equipment Guide, No. 1 (June 1894), page 92, at, [books.google.com]. Therefore, by 1894, there had to have been no more than two narrow-gauge cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks [11-at least 9 = no more than 2]. Also, the numbers on any narrow-gauge cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks had to have been outside the 1604-1615 range. Because ##1601 and 1621 existed outside the 1604-1615 range, they had to have been the only two cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks as of 1894. The 1601 was a dinky caboose, and the 1621 was a larger caboose. Rudnick (March 18, 2015), 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1810, #1600-1603, #1616-1622. For these reasons, U.&N. Ry. Caboose #1621 was the only non-dinky narrow-gauge caboose still on narrow gauge trucks, that could have become Sumpter Valley Ry. Caboose #4 and, eventually, U.S. Army Caboose #909.
[5] There were no O.S.L.&U.N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses present in Utah from 1892 to 1896. Report(s) of the State Board of Equalization of Utah (1892-1898), “Statement(s) … Showing Assessment of Rolling Stock of all Steam Railroads in Utah,” at, [www.hathitrust.org] [enter: Utah board of equalization]. If any such cabooses were not in Utah, including the future U.S. Army #909, they would have been at Pocatello. By 1890, all O.S.L.&U.N. Ry. narrow gauge lines north of Ogden, Utah had been converted to standard gauge. Therefore, as of that date, any narrow-gauge cars in Pocatello would have been stored.
[6] Of former U.&N. Ry. Caboose ##1601 and 1621, one was sold to the S.V. Ry. in June 1897. See, 53 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 52 (June 5, 1897), at page 8, Col. 5 (“The Oregon Short Line sold 200 narrow gauge freight cars …”), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Dec. 27, 2021), and 53 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 53 (June 6, 1897), at page 5, Col. 5 (“The Sumpter Valley … 200 cars purchased from the Short Line.”), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Aug. 30, 2016).
[7] Of former U.&N. Ry. Caboose ##1601 and 1621, the remaining one was sold to the S.V. Ry. in 1903. See, 45 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 177 (April 10, 1903), at page 5, Col. 5 (Eccles Buys the Lot), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Aug. 27, 2016) (“The Sumpter Valley railway … has purchased from the Oregon Short Line all the narrow-gauge equipment of the latter company …”); Sumpter Valley Ry. Freight and Express Bills, at pp. 24 (April 20, 1903-“Cab 025772”), 26 (June 12, 1903-“Caboose Exn”), 26 (June 13, 1903-“Cab”). Unfortunately, the caboose received on June 13 (#1601 or 1621) displayed no visible number. “Cab 025772” was actually a boxcar modified into an outfit car, and “Caboose-Exn” was a modified excursion car.
[8] See, Sumpter Valley Ry., Valuation No. 103, schedule of S.V. Ry. freight train cars (Interstate Commerce Commission, 1916) (Caboose #4 “purchased second hand”).
Numbers: USA 909 (WP&YR); Sumpter Valley 4
Type: Cupola Caboose
Builder: Union Pacific Railway [1] [2]
Year Built: 1880 [1]
Remarks: Originally, Utah & Northern Ry. #71. [3] Re-numbered to 1621 in 1885 to conform to Union Pacific system-wide numbering. [4] Transferred to Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Ry. in 1889 (OSL&UN #1621). Stored at Pocatello, Idaho from 1890 to 1896. [5] Transferred to Oregon Short Line R.R. in March 1897. Sold to Sumpter Valley Ry., either in June 1897 [6] or in 1903. [7] Not used by the S.V. Ry. until 1909, at which time it was assigned number 4. [8] Purchased by the U.S. Army in 1943. Destroyed by fire in 1945.
Notes & References:
[1] 24 Railway World, No. 50 (December 11, 1880), at page 1183, at, [babel.hathitrust.org] (Jan. 3, 2022) (“The Omaha Republican says: … Omaha shops … work that has been done and in progress … 2 narrow gauge way cars for the Utah & Northern …”). Of the eight large U.&N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses, 66-69 had been built by the Ohio Falls Car Mfg. Co. in 1879, 70-71 were built by the U.P. Ry. in 1880, and 72-73 were built by the U.&N. Ry. itself in 1883.
[2] From July 1, 1862 until December 31, 1879, it was the Union Pacific Rail Road. From January 1, 1880 to January 31, 1898, it was the Union Pacific Railway. Since February 1, 1898, it has been the Union Pacific Railroad.
[3] As set forth in the following note, U.&N. Ry. Caboose #1621 eventually became U.S. Army Caboose #909. This car had been one of eight large U.&N. Ry. cabooses, which originally had been ##66-73. By 1885, only seven of these large cabooses remained. The initial 1885 plan included re-numbering the remaining seven cabooses from 66~73 to 1616-1622, collapsing the new sequence to eliminate the un-occupied number that corresponded to the disposed-of car. However, subsequent rosters suggest that the initial plan was not completely followed. The collapsing was not done, the new sequence still retained the un-occupied number, and each large caboose thereby retained its original last digit. Thus, 66~73 became 1616~1623 (retaining one un-occupied number), and 71 became 1621, retaining its original last digit. See, 9 Official Railway Equipment Guide, No. 1 (June 1893), page 92, at, [books.google.com] (Sept, 24, 2022), “Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Ry. (Narrow Gauge), ‘U.&No. Caboose’” (highest car number = 1623).
[4] By 1894, Caboose #1621 was the only remaining former U.&N. Ry. caboose that was still on narrow gauge trucks and that was not a dinky. Out of the 11 narrow gauge cabooses in 1894, one was a dinky and nine had been converted to standard gauge. In 1887, the U.&N. Ry. had converted 12 of its narrow-gauge cabooses to standard gauge. Rudnick, Ron (March 17, 2015). Re: Eight wheel Caboose on C&Sng? 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1893 (March 17, 2015), at, [c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com] (Sept. 25, 2022) (“September 1887: 12 caboose changed to broad gauge”). The numbers of these 12 converted cabooses were 1604-1615. Rudnick, Ron (March 18, 2015). Re: Eight wheel Caboose on C&Sng? 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1810 (March 18, 2015), at, [c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com] (Sept. 24, 2022), #1604-1615. By 1899, nine of these converted cabooses still existed. 14 Official Railway Equipment Register, No. 10 (March 1899), page 145 ([Standard gauge] Caboose, N.G. Bodies = nine (9) cars [[i]by 1899: ##600-608[/i]]). Therefore, as of 1894, at least nine of these conversions to standard gauge still existed. Also, as of 1894, only 11 former U.&N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses remained, including the at least nine that were converted to standard gauge. The number range of all 11 cabooses was 1601~1621. 10 Official Railway Equipment Guide, No. 1 (June 1894), page 92, at, [books.google.com]. Therefore, by 1894, there had to have been no more than two narrow-gauge cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks [11-at least 9 = no more than 2]. Also, the numbers on any narrow-gauge cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks had to have been outside the 1604-1615 range. Because ##1601 and 1621 existed outside the 1604-1615 range, they had to have been the only two cabooses still on narrow gauge trucks as of 1894. The 1601 was a dinky caboose, and the 1621 was a larger caboose. Rudnick (March 18, 2015), 488 C&Sng Discussion Forum 1810, #1600-1603, #1616-1622. For these reasons, U.&N. Ry. Caboose #1621 was the only non-dinky narrow-gauge caboose still on narrow gauge trucks, that could have become Sumpter Valley Ry. Caboose #4 and, eventually, U.S. Army Caboose #909.
[5] There were no O.S.L.&U.N. Ry. narrow gauge cabooses present in Utah from 1892 to 1896. Report(s) of the State Board of Equalization of Utah (1892-1898), “Statement(s) … Showing Assessment of Rolling Stock of all Steam Railroads in Utah,” at, [www.hathitrust.org] [enter: Utah board of equalization]. If any such cabooses were not in Utah, including the future U.S. Army #909, they would have been at Pocatello. By 1890, all O.S.L.&U.N. Ry. narrow gauge lines north of Ogden, Utah had been converted to standard gauge. Therefore, as of that date, any narrow-gauge cars in Pocatello would have been stored.
[6] Of former U.&N. Ry. Caboose ##1601 and 1621, one was sold to the S.V. Ry. in June 1897. See, 53 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 52 (June 5, 1897), at page 8, Col. 5 (“The Oregon Short Line sold 200 narrow gauge freight cars …”), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Dec. 27, 2021), and 53 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 53 (June 6, 1897), at page 5, Col. 5 (“The Sumpter Valley … 200 cars purchased from the Short Line.”), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Aug. 30, 2016).
[7] Of former U.&N. Ry. Caboose ##1601 and 1621, the remaining one was sold to the S.V. Ry. in 1903. See, 45 Salt Lake Tribune, No. 177 (April 10, 1903), at page 5, Col. 5 (Eccles Buys the Lot), at, [newspapers.lib.utah.edu] (Aug. 27, 2016) (“The Sumpter Valley railway … has purchased from the Oregon Short Line all the narrow-gauge equipment of the latter company …”); Sumpter Valley Ry. Freight and Express Bills, at pp. 24 (April 20, 1903-“Cab 025772”), 26 (June 12, 1903-“Caboose Exn”), 26 (June 13, 1903-“Cab”). Unfortunately, the caboose received on June 13 (#1601 or 1621) displayed no visible number. “Cab 025772” was actually a boxcar modified into an outfit car, and “Caboose-Exn” was a modified excursion car.
[8] See, Sumpter Valley Ry., Valuation No. 103, schedule of S.V. Ry. freight train cars (Interstate Commerce Commission, 1916) (Caboose #4 “purchased second hand”).
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