Own a caboose

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I read an article on owning a caboose, and it sounds like a great idea. You could use it as a house, a guesthouse, a hobby room, a storage area, a cabin, a weekend retreat. The possibilities are endless…

What are your thoughts?

Does anyone reading this already own a caboose? If you do, please explain what you use it for, how much it cost, and are you happy with your investment. Any comments would be much apperciated.

Link to article: http://trn.trains.com/Railroad%20Reference/Freight%20Railroads/2006/07/Own%20a%20caboose.aspx

2

The expensive part is moving it to wherever you want to place it.

3

And checking with local building authorities of the appropriate government to assure it meets local building code requjirements for whatever use you intend.

4

And making sure that asbestos abatement is done - Many cabooses(even wide vision ones) have this in the walls…

Jim

5

Several years ago, a surplus Rio Grande or Southern Pacific caboose was priced at around $5,000 FOB Colorado, with the purchaser having to pay to have it moved by rail to a nearby siding, then it had to be trucked to the final destination.

Local building codes are going to determine what you can use one for. A local man has one in his back yard, sitting on a section of panel track. His overall cost to have it moved from Colorado to Benson, Arizona and then be trucked 30 miles to its final destination probably approached $15,000.

6

Transportation is the big price and headache now…how many are roadworthy enough and acceptable to be hauled anywhere? After that, the neighbors followed by zoning boards are big hurdles, too, more expensive in time and emotions than cash layout. Codes? Yeah, could be a problem; but not as much as the first two. But it has been done in many places. Even with larger passenger cars. But don’t hedge anything…know your caboose, your financial ability, be able to answer all questions the first time without hemming and hawing. Good luck…

7

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/740/t/228886.aspx

8

To sort of paraphrase J. P. Morgan, his statement. “… If you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can’t afford it…” Make sure you are compliant with all local codes, and if you have to have road transport to the site, the Trucking Company will be responsible for the permits, and if it requires, A ROAD ESCORT…THAT company WILL HAVE THE INSURANCE BURDEN FOR ANY POTENTIAL DAMAGES, incurred in route.

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