Talk about going full circle, it's possible that she was still wearing the Ashland red scheme in your mom's photograph before BN painted her green. Last time I saw her was on 7/14/1979, while riding the QLA out of Memphis, TN we passed a southbound in siding at Critco, AR and the caboose SLSF 1232 was on the rear. That engineer was going so fast I barely got the caboose number. Once the conductor in caboose SLSF 1203 radioed we were off the bridge, he did not back off GP38-2 SLSF 444's throttle till we got to Black Rock. I was sitting behind the brakeman and he was keeping the engineer informed on the score of the Cardinals game he was listening to on his boombox. Ah the good ole days on the Frisco, no big deal to have friendly hogger or conductor invite you up in the cab to ride around a bit. Today it is a federal offense, literally. Bid high Paul! Roger
Caboose 1232 may be moving to the Fort Smith Trolley Museum. The museum has expressed interest in SLSF 1232. They would like to get it there and cosmetically restore it. Steam locomotive 2-8-2 SLSF 4003 is there on display along with some non Frisco cabooses and a few cars. I was open to the idea of donating caboose SLSF 1232 to the museum where it would have a permanent home and not be considered a liability as it was when on display at Seneca, MO. The Ft. Smith museum is fairly confident that they will be able to raise the money required to move caboose SLSF 1232 by the end of this year. I originally intended to cosmetically restore SLSF 1232 and display it here in Tulsa, OK, but after working so many hours on cabooses SLSF 1291 and SLSF 1288, I think 2 restorations will be plenty for me!
The trolley museum is a great place. When I was with Kansas City Southern (KCS), I was a member. I sponsored a motorcar trip over the Ft. Smith line. They are good guys.
Found these neat items in caboose SLSF 1232 today. There are 3 torpedoes and an envelope with the coonskin on it.
Paul, Be real careful with the torpedoes, might be unstable after 35 years. We have not used them for years because with comfort cabs they are hard to hear. Definitely do not hit one with a hammer. Roger
Thanks Roger, I left them in the caboose. I figured I would just use them for target practice from about 30 yards sometime in the next few days.
Caboose SLSF 1232 is on her way to Arkansas, headed to the Fort Smith Trolley Museum. The trucks were moved today, and the body will be moved in the coming weeks, after they clean and paint the trucks. I came to the realization that I would not restore 4 cabooses, and that it would be fine to send some of them to locations where they could be cared for and displayed. Fort Smith felt like a logical choice with its Frisco history.
Thanks for the updates Paul. If nothing else, you brokering one or two to get them saved has been important. You did such an great job on your first, and I am sure you will do well on the next. It has been neat to watch. I have automobile projects, one of which is an old monster truck. I know how hard it is to make progress on something when you cannot even pick up the parts. It is very impressive you could see your caboose to the finish line, then be ready for another. After seeing photographs of your garage you do not sit still much though do you? HA
