Sligo and Eastern Caboose

Discussion in 'Cabooses General' started by wpmoreland719, Jun 4, 2010.

  1. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    This unusual Drover caboose sets about 1/4 mile south of Hwy TT in Sligo (Dent Co. Rd. 314??). It belonged to the Sligo and Eastern RR, which was abandoned in 1922 upon the closure of the Sligo Furnance Co.

    Though not Frisco in the strictest sense, the Sligo and Eastern was an important connection to the Salem Branch around the turn of the century. The Frisco actually operated a branch off of the Salem Branch which led into Sligo. The Sligo branch of the Frisco was about five to six miles in length, and it's most important commodity was the pig iron that it hauled from the furnance to St. Louis. But of course, it also furnished the community with it's everyday supplies.

    The line east of Sligo was constructed (my best guess) between 1890 and 1900 and stretched past Dillard, Viburnum, and Bixby to small point called East End by the railroad, but known as Roulon by the USPS. The line maintained a roundhouse at Sligo and operated several geared Shay's for the rough track eastward.

    This particular caboose was divided in half after the furnance and railroad shut down, and was used by two different farmers for sheds and chicken coops. Fortunately, an individual with an interest in perserving it was able to find both halves of the caboose and place it in his yard. I found him outside when I stopped by, and he was kind enough to allow me to take as many photos as I want to, including inside of it. Unfortunately, the wasps in the cupola didn't share his hospitality.

    Pat Moreland,
    Union Mo.
     

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  2. Ishmael

    Ishmael Member

    Good photos, Pat. According to a person I talked to many years ago, the eastern part of the line, from Sligo to East End, was a logging road. They cut down trees and hauled them back to Sligo to fire the furnace. So the S&E was half logging line. I have no idea who he was or where to get hold of him.

    Mike
     
  3. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Did you happen to get measurements? I'd love to make one out of styrene. Nice catch!
     
  4. rc2477

    rc2477 Member

    Hello all, I wanted to post a few pics of a work in progress that relates to the old caboose in the photos. I model the Missouri and North Arkansas railroad in about the early 20's, they rostered a caboose very much like the one in the pics. The mn&a 305 was used in the earlly days during construction as a private car and rolling office by George Sands, when finished in this service the car was outfitted as a regular caboose and served the railroad in that capacity for several years I presume. I've only seen one pic of this car in James Fairs "the north arkansas line" and I just thought the single "blind" end was just interesting and cool. Anyway, here's my model, it's far from an exact copy! I started with two blue box athearn side door caboose kits and kitbashed the end with the door and platform, so I also had to cut and splice in the underframe, all very simple "cut and fit back together". A bit of wire and some 2/6 scale lumber and "poofp" caboose 305. There are just a few details that will be added but first a coat of caboose red.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 17, 2012
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  5. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Craig, that's a nice looking model. I admire all of you scratch builders and kit bashers out there.

    Manny, I didn't take any measurements of the caboose. To me, it appears longer than a typical caboose, even the steel ones of the later era. The Frisco also used a drover caboose on the Salem Branch as evidenced in the 1982 article in Trains magazine. There is a photo of it depicting men unloading large containers of milk in Steelville in 1949. It also had benches to accomodate passengers. My mother used to catch the train in Wesco and ride in the caboose to Salem to take piano lessons. She still talks with admiration about the conductor's ability to remain on his feet and write on a tablet while the train rocked back and forth.

    Pat Moreland,
    Union Mo.
     
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  6. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    That is very nice work! I'm anxious to see her all painted and finished. Nice roof work and side steps.
     
  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Sligo, MO ..... my memories of exploring it as a kid several times in the late 1950's/early 1960's:
    - Beautiful, rustic Ozark country
    - Gravel roads, usually light orange color, dusty
    - Iron tailings
    - Iron slag piles
    - Few obvious ruins of the Sligo Iron Works
    - Only faint evidence of the ROW of the Sligo & Eastern
    - Chiggers!

    Sligo was one of the places we would explore while staying at the Old Mill Lodge outside of Dillard, MO, on the Huzzah River (creek!). Golly, I loved that place and that part of Missouri! Frisco country! There was clear evidence of the S&E ROW as it came through Dillard.

    Ken
     
  8. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    Very nice work.
    I worked the Salem branch I believe in 76 or 77.
    We were removing concrete ties.
    Nice area. The lead line had a lot of sub-grade issues.
    Bill Jackson
     

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