We have finished painting our caboose at the Catoosa Historical Society. Originally built in 1978 by Pacific Car and Foundry as BN 12252 we chose to honor the railroad which served Catoosa for nearly 100 years by painting it as a Frisco car. I choose the number 1882 for two reasons. First it would have been a plausible Frisco number if they had continued to buy cabooses and had continued their current numbering system. Second the year 1882 is when the Frisco line was built into Catoosa and the town was established. It is painted in correct Frisco colors and lettering and looks very nice next to our Frisco depot. Oh, by the way the depot is not real either. It is a 12 inch to the foot scale model of the original depot built with plans provided by the Frisco Museum. It is built with modern construction and is correct right down to the 2 bay windows. One on each side since they moved the mainline from the East side to the West side during a line change. Anyway if your in the area come see us.
Oh, I am sorry. Catoosa, OK is at MP 409 on the Cherokee Subdivision of the Springfield Division of the BNSF. Or if you are not familiar with the railroad we are just East of Tulsa, OK on historic Route 66 home of the famous "Blue Whale". Ya'll come!
Man, that looks sharp! I used to go white bass fishing every spring in that area, but have not been in a long time. If I ever make it back to eastern Oklahoma, I will definitely stop by. Pat Moreland, Union, MO
Excellent job, indeed! I would like to make some front and side photographs from that for future use as "photograph textures" for a V-scale model. Andre
Nice paint job, very well done. My personal preference is that a caboose be restored to reflect its original owner or owners, but given the fact that there are so many BN cabooses across the country, I do not think this one will hurt anything. I truly understand all the reasons for going this route. It is much better to do this, than to let it rust away or go to scrap. What is the condition of the interior of this caboose? Is it open or can it be opened by the appropriate individual? I see that the sliding windows in the cupola have been replaced by what appears to be one solid piece on each side. I will try to stop by for a visit when I am in the neighborhood.
The interior is being restored. The large oil stove was removed revealing a badly rotted floor. All the flooring has been repaired, the seats reupholstered, and the walls repainted. The plan is to restore one end to in service appearance and use the rest for displaying railroad artifacts and historical information. Yes, the upper windows were replaced to help seal the car from the weather. No I do not have photographs of the car as BN 12252 but it was in standard BN paint and lettering. We have one on display in full BN paint in Tulsa near the airport. Did not need another. You may visit the inside of the caboose at the following. Catoosa Historical Museum 207 S. Cherokee, Catoosa, OK 74015 Open Tuesday & Friday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Marc Montray
Brilliant workmanship and a fine display. As to the number and unit not being correct, I would refer everyone to Modeler's Rule #1; it is your caboose. Long live Frisco!
Very nice indeed. Was there last summer. Strange, I grew up around there and never knew it was there. I watched a lot of Frisco trains pass by. But the number you choose was driving me crazy looking for research on that caboose. Now I know which number to research I can start over. LOL
Manny, If you want any more detailed photographs, I could run over there and take them. I have a few posted in my album. Albeit the caboose is weathered now. I believe their address and phone number: 207 N Cherokee Catoosa, OK 74015 Phone: (918) 266-3296 Fax: (918) 266-7156 Edit 5/12/2024: The address is South Cherokee as originally posted by Marc Montray. MKD
