Move of SP 244 Caboose

October 20, 2023

Southern Pacific Caboose #244, a C-30-1 (C for caboose, 30 tons, series 1), was moved today from the Emily Street Yard to the Display Track at the Museum.

The caboose was purchased by the Museum and was moved to the Emily Street yard in 2013. It was moved from the high desert north of Lancaster, CA where it had been since 1963. The car was built in 1926. You can read all about the 2013 move in the Summer 2013 newsletter and the Fall 2013 newsletter.

The Emily Street Yard has been the temporary storage location for newly acquired items that need work prior to being placed on the museum's display track for public display. Due to the city's request to vacate the yard, the museum must move this caboose to our display track prior to it's restoration. Early on Friday, October 20, 2023, the museum team with the help of Bragg Crane, Dwight Peterson Trucking, and West Coast Towing began the work of moving the SP 244 caboose to the south end of the museum's display track next to the museum. The large crane lifted the caboose body and placed it on one of the flatbed trailers. After cribbing and strapping was installed, the trailer moved away to make room for lifting each of the car's two rail trucks which were then strapped to the second trailer. Everything was then transported over to the museum parking lot next to the display track where this process was repeated in reverse. Photos documenting the entire process are shown on this page.


Safety Briefing prior to the move (left to right): Steve Cake, Dave Rohr, Dan Manion, Mike Adams, Brad LaRose, Howard Amborn, Ted VanKlaveren. Not shown: Gary See (taking the photo), Bob Wilson, Greg Jackson, Mike Burrell.