Hi, all! I am a new member to this forum and was just wondering if somebody could answer the following questions about Frisco cabooses. 1) Were any former Frisco cabooses repainted into Burlington Northern's Cascade Green color scheme and if so, then which ones, if they are known? 2) Are there former Frisco cabooses that are still in use by BNSF or are still on the BNSF roster of active equipment? I am very good friends with a gentleman who used to work as a section hand for the Frisco in Burrton, Kansas when he was younger. Thanks for any and all replies! Mike Beem, Topeka, Kansas
I have the Hallmark Models of a wood side-door caboose and would like to letter it correctly. Does anyone have any information relating to the wood side-door cabooses the Frisco built? I am looking for lettering information and the number series. Thanks in advance.
In a two part article in Diesel Era, Greg Sommers describes the "Waycars" of the Frisco in the last years of operation. In over 40 years of studying the Frisco, I have never heard Frisco cabooses referred to as "waycars". Has anyone ever heard this term used referring to Frisco cabooses?
Never! I remember right after the merger, someone from Springfield was transferred to Galesburg, IL. He made the comment that he was going to teach folks there that they are cabooses not waycars. Locomotives or units not motors. And chat cars, not ballast cars. They are not waycars, motors and ballast cars.
I recently went to the amusement park Sliver Dollar City. I know the train in the park is narrow gauge and not actually Frisco, but there was a caboose that they say hobos moved in and it looked two big on the ends two be narrow gauge. I was wondering if it was a actual Frisco caboose or just a prop for the ride.
Mike, Some railroads served branch lines that did not always have sufficient ridership for a passenger train. They often used mixed local freights with a passenger caboose caboose or combine. Since these cars did not always have room for milk cans, freight, baggage, mail and ice required the carriers sometimes used a boxcar ahead of the passenger car, referred to as a "waycar", "merchandise" or "produce" car depending on the carrier and their primary use. These cars were sometimes random empty box cars pulled for the job, but some railroads used designated cars that had end doors, side steps, windows, desks, and even stoves added to them. The term waycar was derived from waybills used for less than carload (LCL) freight. This seemed to be the most popular nickname for these cars. I believe that the term then moved back to side door cabooses behind them and finally stuck cabooses in general.
