South Pacific Coast Cabooses

Compiled by Randy Hees

The SPC included its cabooses in its passenger roster. These cars were usually (but not always) small combines with spartan interiors and equipped with link and pin couplers. Originally SPC numbered its cabooses as a separate category but over time this practice changed with cabooses built after 1879 or 1880 being included with the passenger cars (starting with car 32) There appear to have been two cars numbered 1and 2. The originals having been the first cabooses on the railroad. These cars were set aside by the late 1880's. In the mid 1890's two new cars were rebuilt from wrecked box cars.

SPC caboose usage history is as follows:

• 3 cars in service 1876/77 (1, 2, & 3)
• 4 cars in service in 1880 (1, 2, 3, & 32)
• 7 or 8 cars in service 1882 (1 &/or 2, 3, 32, 45, 46, 47, & 48)
• 7 cars on hand 7-1-87 (3, 32, 45, 46, 47, 48 & 63). 63 is obviously an error (not converted until 1903). The 7th car could be ether the first car #1 or #2
• 7 cars in use 9-92 (1, 3, 32, 45, 46, 47, & 48)
• 5 cars in use 6-30-98 (3,46,47,48, & 63)
• 4 cars in use 1-15-03 ( 3, 46, 47, & 48 )
• 5-7 cars possibly on hand 4-18-06 ( 2nd 1 & 2, 3, 46(?),47, 48, & 63(?)). 46 disappears about this date. 63 may not yet have been converted.
• 3 cars on hand 6-30-09 ( 2nd 1 & 2, & 3)

The Roster

• Caboose 1 (first), built 1877, probably by the Carter Brothers, listed in Equipment Register in 3-88, gone soon after. Probably a duckbill combine. Disposition unknown, but may be the body seen in photos used as the station at LaFranc.
  
  
• Caboose 1 (second), rebuilt from box car 92 in either 12-2-92 or 3-30-04 (the records show both). Box car 92 was a 28' ten-ton car built about 1880, which had been wrecked 6-8-92. Caboose 1 was transferred to the Nevada and California Railroad 10-26-06 as car number 416. Car 416 was renumbered MW416 10-13-13. The body may still be in existence in the Owens Valley.
  
  
• Caboose 2 (first), built 1877, probably by the Carter Brothers, listed in Equipment Register in 3-88, and again in 12-89. Probably a duckbill combine. Disposition unknown.
  
  
• Caboose 2 (second), rebuilt from box car 294 on 3-30-04. Car 294 was a 30' 20-ton combination boxcar built by the Southern Pacific's Sacramento shops 6-1-91. The car was "laid aside" 12-31-09.
  
  
• Caboose 3, built 1880, probably by the Carter Brothers. It was a 30' 4" long duckbill combine. The car was "laid aside" 12-31-09.
  
  
• Caboose 32, built about 1880, probably by the Carter Brothers. It was probably a duckbill combine. This was the first caboose numbered with the passenger cars. It was dropped from Equipment Register listing after 7-94, but not broken up until 11-17-02.
  
  
• Caboose 45, one of 4 cars built by the Carter Brothers in 1882. The car(s) were 30' long duckbill combines with 5 windows, side seating, one lamp, and a stove (stoves were not universal on SPC passenger cars). Car 45 disappears from the Equipment Register listings in 7-94, the disposition of the car is unknown.
  
  
• Caboose 46, one of 4 cars built by the Carter Brothers in 1882. (See car 45 for description), The disposition of car 46 is unknown, the SPC official record states "Vacated from roster prior to 6-30-06, date unknown."
  
  
• Caboose 47, one of 4 cars built by the Carter Brothers in 1882. (See car 45 for description). Transferred to the Nevada & California 10-27-07 and renumbered 455. renumbered to SP 455. Car was declared "worn out" and scrapped 11-28-15. The body was sold as a shed for non-railroad use in Keeler Ca. Body acquired for preservation by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources and moved to Ardenwood, Ca. in 1976. Currently stored off display awaiting restoration.
  
  
• Caboose 48, one of 4 cars built by the Carter Brothers in 1882. (See car 45 for description).Transferred to the Nevada & California car 456 on 10-27-07. Later renumbered SP 1, then SP 400 in 1946. Car burned in 1949.
  
  
• Caboose 63, built as combine 63, probably in 1883. The car had a railroad roof, 7 windows, side seating, and probably lacked a stove. Car was "converted" to a caboose at an unknown date. It is listed as a Combine in the Official Equipment Register in 3-88 and again in 9-92. A letter written from the SPC to SP in 1-03 said it was a combine as well. But a 1896 lawsuit lists it as a caboose. The SPC Record shows the car under "combine," lined out and says "see cabooses." Transferred to the N&C as car 467 on 8-9-09. On the N&C/SP it was rebuilt with a cupola. The SP sold the car to Parker Lyon in 1946, who later sold it to William Harrah. It was destroyed by fire in 1961. Remains of the car are currently in San Diego.
  
  

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Copyright Randy Hees, 1996

Page created by: hees@ix.netcom.com
Changes last made on: Sat Jul 13 20:45:40 1996