Caboose SLSF 1401

Please see the following link for a view of Frisco caboose SLSF 1401.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uptrain/3578855574/sizes/o/in/set-72157603703422729/

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1573688 (4/12/2009)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1623049 (5/31/2009)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1548274 (3/29/2009)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1573687 (3/21/2009)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1185836 (5/31/2008)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1185835 (5/31/2008)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=737061 (5/5/2007)

This is one of the Frisco built local service extended or wide vision cabooses. It was constructed in the Springfield West Car Shops. This car was built during 5/1973. The basic body was recycled from a Pullman Standard PS-1 boxcar, SLSF 18434.

The shops lowered the height of the car, fabricated a new cupola and ends. The interiors were equipped with appropriate equipment including a conductors desk, seats, toilet, sink, lockers, water storage tank, ice box cooler and heater. In the photograph note the placement and arrangement of the smoke stack bracing, grab irons, handrails, coupler lift bar and red marker lamp on the end eve. Also, the right hand side steps have been damaged and bent toward the truck.

The car is on display west of Springfield along the south side of U.S. Highway 60 (a/k/a W. Sunshine St.). The car is near the junction of U.S. Hwy 60 and James River Freeway (a/k/a Highway 360). It is located at the American Legion Ballpark complex. The the complex is just north of Springfield Utility's Southwest Power Plant. This plant is serviced by a short spur over the highway with loop track off of the Frisco's Springfield Subdivision.

The location address is 5494 W. Sunshine St. (a/k/a U.S. Hwy 60), Brookline, MO.

Please see http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...id=LhLMGSMvx1QwzHaxy0fP8g&cbp=11,144.01,,0,-1 or http://www.bing.com/maps/?FORM=Z9LH...xNjYwMzA2MzMxNTYxJTdlLTkzLjQyNTIyNTIzNzI4NjE= (see aerial, birds eye view).

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

Mark

 

Notice the triangular logo with the 40 and 8 inside?

Also Kickapoo Voiture? Kickapoo was the name of a tribe of Indians in the Springfield, MO area and Voiture is French for car.

Some years ago I saw a parade float in Rapid City South Dakota that had something to the effect of "The Society of Forty and Eight" on the side of what appeared to be an old outside brace box car. I found out that it was sponsored by La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux.

From my French training in high school I knew this translated into The Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses. It comes from the fact that during WWI a boxcar would transport either 40 men or 8 horses. La Societe is a group that venerates veterans and their service.

For more detail take a look at the following link.

http://www.fortyandeight.org/

 

Sherrel,

The grab irons on the car ends are a safety feature.

The upper grabs were used as hand holds when standing on the rear platform. Also they were an additional point of contact in the event a crewman needed to look forward from the end of the train before stepping down. Other classes of cabooses also had similar hand holds placed in similar positions on their ends.

Railroads stress safety and emphasize 3-point contact at all times. Inside the cars were equipped with an upper overhead hand rail that ran the length of the car. This was also used as an additional point of contact in case there was an unexpected movement from buff or draft (slack) action.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

Mark