Re: Sumpter Valley Ry. Caboose #6

The original caboose was a hand me down like all of the others. In the 1920's Sumpter Valley built or rebuilt four cabooses from the hodgepodge of 2nd hand cars, numbering these 3 through 6. As the four rebuilt cars all had the same basic design they probably used little more than the frame and draft gear. The passenger trucks likely came from scrapped passenger cars, as the passenger service was handled by two sets of ACF turtle back cars bought new in the late teens. One difference in two of the four cars is that the sides of the cupola on #'s 3 and 5 slope in towards the top, rather than square like #6. There is no explanation for this, but the design is causing problems with water getting into the walls and causing rot.

Caboose #4 went to the White Pass, as did #3, and was burned for salvage. The other three are at SVRR's McEwen yard, though only #3 is in service at this time. Caboose #5 is under repair due to water damage to the cupola and #6 is lacking brakes and draft gear, as well as having the wrong trucks.

One early caboose was rebuilt into a snow plow, but we have been unable to confirm it's identity. It no longer exists.