Extant Seaboard caboose?

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I recently visited Lakefront Park in Kissimmee, FL and discovered a caboose that is being used as an ice cream shop. It was closed that day. I looked it over and the only thing I could find that would let me know what line it was used on was the letters SAL RR with a number I believe was 2643. This was located on one of the trucks in raised type in the metal. Does anyone know if this is a Seaboard Caboose? Do you have any background information? Anything would be appreciated. Thanks

-- Michael Mulligan (trainfam4@cs.com), December 09, 2002

Answers

Michael, after reading your question, I stopped by and looked at the caboose. It looks a lot like a M-5 or possibly an M-6, but it looks to be a foot or more shorter. The caboose also has some external additions, such as roof ladders at each end, and red warning lights fastened to the roof at each end of the caboose, with electric cable wires into the interior.

I contacted the City of Kissimmee Recreation and Parks Department, and according to Department staff, the caboose was donated to the City by the Give Children The World, an organization dedicated to helping severely and terminally ill children. I also contacted the organization, but none of the staff knew how they obtained the caboose. However, they said that they would try to find out the original ownership of the mysterious caboose, and let me know. So, as soon as I find out more information, I will pass it along on this thread. Best Wishes! Aaron Dowling (aarondowling@cfl.rr.com)

-- Aaron Dowling (aarondowling@cfl.rr.com), December 16, 2002.


I have seen this cab many times in the past from the mainline and it definitely looks like and M-5 or M-6. When riding the Silver Meteor or Star northbound, you can catch a glimpse of it through the trees, looking toward the lake, shortly before arriving at the Kissimmee station. Never had a chance to check it out up close.

-- William Billy, Jr. (CRRGator@juno.com), December 10, 2002.

Roger Kirkpatrick's current listing of captive cabooses in Florida does not show a caboose in a park in Kissimmee. I am most interested in this caboose, as I'm sure Roger will be. The SAL cast into the trucks would indicate that they did come from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. The number you mention is not a valid road number for an SAL caboose, and the road number is not usually cast into the truck. Look on the center sill of the car for a stenciled road number, if has not been painted. Look closely at the paint on the body for a number or reporting marks that might show through under certain lighting and angles. Do you have a picture of the caboose you could email me or post somewhere? We could probably at least tell if it is an SAL caboose from a photograph.

-- Larry Platt (lbp49@yahoo.com), December 10, 2002.

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