GN Caboose X630 Restoration Project
Tax deductible
Great Northern Caboose #X630
In June, 2018 historic GN caboose X630 was moved 50 miles from Dorris, CA to the grounds of the Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture (BBCRC) in Weed, CA where it will be preserved. We were fortunate to receive a grant from the Heritage Fund of the Great Northern Railway Historical Society to assist with moving the car to the BBCRC, but it fell short of the full expenses of transporting the car.
The rail car was built in August, 1926 at the Great Northern shops in St. Cloud, MN. It is similar to other 25 foot wooden GN cabooses except that it features an unusually heavy steel frame giving it a distinctive look. The heavy-duty steel frame, re-purposed from a GN steam locomotive tender , was used to ensure the caboose could handle the stress of use in "pusher" service on mountain grades. It reportedly was one of only ten such cabooses constructed.
Following retirement in 1963 it was transferred to Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company for use on the Oregon, California & Eastern Railroad, based in Klamath Falls, OR where it was first painted yellow. It was retired years later and sold into private ownership in Dorris, CA where it has remained for decades until being donated to the BBCRC in 2018. GN X630 still has many of its historical features and with some restoration work has great potential as a wooden pre-WWII caboose. We intend for it to provide visitors with an experience of what such a caboose - and the life of a trainman - was like back in this era.
It is generally in good shape but needs some rehabilitation:
-- new roof on the cupola end of car
-- new running boards the length of the car
-- caulking and waterproofing
-- limited replacement of interior siding
-- painting inside and out
-- new hardware and upholstery
-- window glass replacement
We had originally hoped to raise $5000 for this car by the end of 2018. We have extended the deadline until early May in order to pay off the moving expenses and to complete its rehabilitation in 2019. Please help us reach our goal!! (NOTE: All donations to BBCRC are tax-deductible).
More detailed history and information on this and all of the BBCRC historic rail cars at Black Butte
Inside of the GN caboose #X630 in the summer of 2018
In June, 2018 historic GN caboose X630 was moved 50 miles from Dorris, CA to the grounds of the Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture (BBCRC) in Weed, CA where it will be preserved. We were fortunate to receive a grant from the Heritage Fund of the Great Northern Railway Historical Society to assist with moving the car to the BBCRC, but it fell short of the full expenses of transporting the car.
The rail car was built in August, 1926 at the Great Northern shops in St. Cloud, MN. It is similar to other 25 foot wooden GN cabooses except that it features an unusually heavy steel frame giving it a distinctive look. The heavy-duty steel frame, re-purposed from a GN steam locomotive tender , was used to ensure the caboose could handle the stress of use in "pusher" service on mountain grades. It reportedly was one of only ten such cabooses constructed.
Following retirement in 1963 it was transferred to Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company for use on the Oregon, California & Eastern Railroad, based in Klamath Falls, OR where it was first painted yellow. It was retired years later and sold into private ownership in Dorris, CA where it has remained for decades until being donated to the BBCRC in 2018. GN X630 still has many of its historical features and with some restoration work has great potential as a wooden pre-WWII caboose. We intend for it to provide visitors with an experience of what such a caboose - and the life of a trainman - was like back in this era.
It is generally in good shape but needs some rehabilitation:
-- new roof on the cupola end of car
-- new running boards the length of the car
-- caulking and waterproofing
-- limited replacement of interior siding
-- painting inside and out
-- new hardware and upholstery
-- window glass replacement
We had originally hoped to raise $5000 for this car by the end of 2018. We have extended the deadline until early May in order to pay off the moving expenses and to complete its rehabilitation in 2019. Please help us reach our goal!! (NOTE: All donations to BBCRC are tax-deductible).
More detailed history and information on this and all of the BBCRC historic rail cars at Black Butte
Inside of the GN caboose #X630 in the summer of 2018Organizer
Ron Johnson
Organizer
Weed, CA
Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture
Beneficiary