Doane College Caboose - The Return!
Dave Maes
Good Evening Rail Listers!
A few weeks back, I reported that a college in Nebraska, Doane
College, had received a caboose from the BNSF. I promised updates, but my
friend, who originally showed me the article, was busy for the last
month.
After a very enjoyable evening, where I met her new boyfriend and
she met my new girlfriend, she graciously let me have the alumni magazine
in question. The following article is reprinted, without permission, from
the Summer 1996 "Doane Magazine"...
CABOOSE MAKES PERMANENT STOP ON CAMPUS
By Greg Albright (Class of '98)
It's over 15 feet high, 40 feet long, weighs 26.5 tons, and is the
newest addition to Doane's Crete (NE) campus. It's a train caboose, and a
fitting symbol of the ties between Doane College and the Burlington
Northern railroad that branch back into the 1800's, when the Burlington
Railroad Co. (CB&Q) donated approximately 600 acres of land to establish
the campus in Crete.
The caboose, built in 1968, is now situated permanently in the
colleges arboretum on 4th and Iris streets. The caboose is perched on
railroad ties and runs slightly askew to the road.
The project of obtaining the caboose was made possible through the
interest and efforts of Crete resident Harold Jones, a train aficionado.
With no desire to be reimbursed for his expenses, Jones had the caboose
transported to Crete and personally hauled the tracks and ties to the
campus. The college's maintenance staff set the tracks and prepared the
site.
Prior to moving the caboose to campus from it's location on unused
tracks on the west side of town, Wilber (NE) resident Randy Homolka
worked on the exterior. 16 hours of sandblasting and spray painting, five
gallons of thinner, eight gallons or primer, and 10 gallons of paint
later, Homolka completed his part in the volunteer process. The caboose
was painted Early American Antique Red and features the number CB&Q
13685.
With help of several BNSF employees, Crete residents, college
maintenance staff, and a 130-ton capacity crane, the caboose made it's
way through Crete.
The interior of the caboose will be renovated and include historical
information and memorabilia about the railroad(s), as well as the
railroad's connection to Doane and college founder Thomas Doane, who
served as chief civil engineer of the CB&Q and Missouri River railroads.
-----------End Article------------
The waycar looks like a typical late BN caboose, with all the
lower windows covered with metal plates. The caboose is actually painted
CB&Q "Chinese" Red, with authentic markings. Actually, a really nice job.
The editor of the newsletter can be contacted electronically at
jengeb...@doane.edu
As noted before, Doane is located 14 miles southwest of Lincoln. There is
a marked exit for Doane off of I-80, and the town lies on BNSF's
Lincoln/Denver mainline.
Keep Your Stick On The Ice!
- "BNSF" Dave
MP 20.2, BNSF Front Range Sub., Louisville, CO
"Ship And Travel, BNSF, Everywhere West!"
(Ever wonder what a BNSF waycar would look like? Hmmm....)
[Special thanks to Jim Poston for my new Rail List nickname...]