Hello! My name is Kimberley and my town has a Frisco caboose in the downtown section. I work for the Building Department and I would love to utilize this gem in a more prominent way. Everyone loves the caboose and it has so much potential. I have joined this group to learn more about the Frisco railroad, our caboose and its history to help enhance this wonderful part of our community.
After reviewing pictures and returning to our Caboose, I have come to the sad fact that our Caboose is not a Frisco. I'm so sad. Thank you for the warm welcome.
Kimberly, The caboose in St. Clair, Missouri is not a former Frisco caboose. It is a faux Frisco unit painted as if it had SLSF heritage. The caboose was originally purchased by the Great Northern (GN) Railway. It was originally numbered GN X-130. The X in the caboose reporting marks and number denoted on that it was used in non-revenue company service. The 30' steel extended-vision (also known as (aka) wide-vision) cupola style caboose was built by the International Car Company, Kenton, Ohio in June 1968. It was one of 20 units in series GN X116-X135. When delivered the caboose was painted Big Sky Blue with white lettering. This paint scheme was adopted by the railroad in 1967. The manufacturing company began operations in Kenton during 1924 as the New City Car Company. During 1925, the NCCC became the International Car Company. In 1941, it started specializing in caboose construction. International Car Company would be purchased by Pacific Car and Foundry Company, Fenton, WA during 1978. With the decline in demand for cabooses caused by changing technology, union agreements and government regulations the latter company closed the Kenton plant in 1983. It was later renumbered for that successor railroad when it was originally formed in 1970. At that time it was renumbered with new company's reporting marks and assigned number 10090. It was in the group of cabooses in series 10076-10095. The caboose would be repainted in that road's awful green with yellow body ends and white lettering. When it was retired by that successor line it was donated to the community. The caboose is currently located adjacent to the Frisco's Rolla Subdivision in the town's Main Street Park at South Main Street and North Street, St. Clair, Franklin County, Missouri. This is near the railroad's mile post 52.2 (MP 52.2). Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Welcome Kimberly! Although your caboose was not a Frisco caboose, we appreciate its having been painted to a Frisco likeness. We have seen cabooses used as Welcome Centers or Railroad museums about the area's rail heritage and stories about local railroad employees. You also might consider renting it out as a venue for kids birthday parties.
Your interest in preservation of your local railroad history is very commendable . Cabooses were about the last remaining relics of classic historical railroading to enter preservation, and while many have survived, there won’t be any more. How many towns have we seen back in the 1950s being presented beautifully shopped steam locomotives with great fanfare and then forgetting about them, allowing them to rot and rust away until they are finally scrapped in the park.
