P&SR #1

August 1, 2022

p&sr caboose #1

Introduction and History of CABOOSE 1

Research indicates that the history of P&SR No. 1 started in the Sacramento Shops of the Central Pacific in 1899 when the caboose was first built. The construction drawings that the Society has obtained for a CS-15 style caboose match. We found SP No. 272 on one end and on the frame of the caboose. Records indicate that SP No. 272 was retired in 1932, later reconditioned and sent to SP subsidiary P&SR as their first No. 1 in 1934. The NWPRRHS has pictures of the caboose in service dated from early 1939 through the 1940s. It was retired and taken off the property in January of 1958.

A picture from Frank Maffei shows the caboose in front of Colonial Drive-in in San Mateo. We do not know why it was parked there. It next turned up as an office for a used car lot along the El Camino Real in San Mateo. With CalTrain’s planned elevation of the tracks in the late 1980s, the used car lot was in the way. The caboose was saved and moved to a warehouse in Hunters Point, the home of the Golden Gate Railroad Museum. The museum was forced to leave Hunters Point when the Navy and the City of San Francisco decided to redevelop the area. That’s when the NWPRRHS stepped in and in January of 2005, the caboose was returned to Petaluma.

Upon arrival in Petaluma the NWPRRHS began the process of determining what needed to be done to rehabilitate the caboose. Reconstruction began in April of 2005 with a lot of demolition and removal of many rotten wood parts. What we have today is the result of some 2,500 hours of volunteer time and a considerable amount of donated money.

Pictures

Early shot of P&SR #1
Paul Shaw
p&sr caboose #1
Good end view of the caboose
The second # 1, note end window, small logo and archbar trucks
Picture of #1 on the trailer ready to leave Petaluma 1-29-1958
At Hunters Point Shipyard in the custody of Golden Gate Railroad Museum
Returning to Petaluma in January of 2005
At the reconstruction site, it will be in this location for 4 years
We are checking out all the damage time has taken on our caboose, note the sill is rotted through
This corner of the cupola and roof are in very bad shape. We decide to pull the cupola off the body
New side sill taking shape
Side sill installed and new framing for the missing windows has been installed
New siding on one side, we rehabilitated the end siding in place
After fixing the rafters and decking, we covered the roof with a layer of plywood for strength
Residing the inside wall sheathing
Our ‘new’ trucks arrive from Mineral Washington
Good wheels and axels, plus lots of salvageable parts
Taking the hardware off was hot work
We had lots of holes to drill in the new parts
A little nudging will make these parts come together
New truck frames
Dropping them onto the axels
A good day’s (actually months’) work
Welding the new under frame to the bolsters
Trucks are on temporary track spaced just right for the caboose to join them
Halloween morning, the caboose flies to its new location
Set down on the trucks
New roofing installed to keep out the weather
New cabinets under the cupola are taking shape.

Archives

  • From the September-October 2008 Headlight

    P&SR Caboose Restoration ProjectAre We Over the Hump?By Jeff MillerickWhen our workdays begin, we pull off the tarps and we all stand back, enjoy our coffee and doughnuts and agree “she looks great!” We’ve made the transition from “what did we get ourselves into?” to “we’re now on the downhill side.”Letter boards are on. The… read more

  • From the July-August 2008 Headlight

    From the Sawhorse of the Restoration CrewTo Work We Don’t GoBy Jeff MillerickOur February 23 work day was rained out (a little R&R). March 8 – clear skies. Off come the tarps, out come the coffee and donuts. Many tasks to do. Charlie Siebenthal, Skip Ruckert and Gus Campagna go to work on the inside… read more

  • From the March-April 2008 Headlight

    From the Sawhorse of the Restoration CrewP&SR Caboose #1 – Phoenix RisingBy Jeff MillerickWell, the Christmas Trees are gone. We’re into a New Year and work season. A pre-workday meeting is held at Pete’s Henny Penny Restaurant and the new work season is discussed. Where do we want to be at the end of this… read more

  • From the November – December 2007 Headlight

    From the Sawhorse of the Restoration CrewP&SR Caboose #1 is a Diamond in the RoughBy Jeff MillerickGet a load of this! Another complete set of trucks has arrived. The caboose’s siding is primed and coated with a base coat of caboose red. Installation will soon be completed.There has been a flurry of activity around #1… read more

  • From the September-October 2007 Headlight

    P&SR Caboose #1 – A Diamond in the RoughBy Jeff MillerickI’ll bet by now everybody is wondering what is going on with P&SR #1. At the last reporting the cupola had just been removed, giving #1 the appearance of still going backwards.Well, that was the turning point. She is starting to move forward. Lloyd Butler… read more

  • From the May-June 2007 Headlight

    P&SR Caboose No. 1From the Sawhorse of the Restoration CrewBy Jeff MillerickThe crew arrived in force with tools in hand, ready to go after a long holiday and winter season. “Where did we leave off? Where do we start again?”Skip Ruckert: “The blocking in the walls isn’t quite completed. Some of the pieces made from… read more

  • P&SR Caboose 1 Progress Reports: March 2006-February 2007

    Caboose #1 Progress Report 3-18-06. Gathering at the caboose site this morning at 10:00 AM were:Jeff Millerick, Don Millerick, Gus Campagna, Bruce Evans, Harold Mentzer, Lauren Williams, Charlie Siebenthal, Don Cabrall, Angelo Figone, Skip Rueckert, Allen Tacy, Verne Alexander, Dave Turner, Michael Manson, Marsha Trent. The weather co-operated and it was a sunny mild morning.… read more