Does anybody know the status of cabooses SLSF 1279 or SLSF 1289? They were renumbered 11607 and 11617 at the time of the merger, then renumbered 12517 and 12541 after being rebuilt in 1990. The most recent information I can find shows 12517 still active in 2010, parked on a siding at Grand Junction, Colorado. Just curious if they have been retired or are still on the roster, and where they are today.
Caboose SLSF 1279 - BN 12517 is in track 583 Parachute, Colorado. Caboose SLSF 1289 - BN 12541 is not on the BNSF system.
Caboose SLSF 1279 - 12517 is up there forever I think, kind of out of the way, but still in service. Was caboose SLSF 1289 - 12541 the other caboose we had in Grand Junction, CO at one time? I cannot remember what number it was, it met its demise when it found itself between a couple units, and 30 loads in emergency at about 20 mph. I am thinking it was taken to a property not too far from Grand Junction, CO.
That is great information, thanks guys! Great to see an original 1200 class SLSF caboose still in service! Does anybody know if it is still used as a caboose, or might it be a shoving platform?
Yea, it is still a caboose, but not used very often. Needs a set of wheels under it that are not so flat in spots, The old girl rattles pretty good at speed. I have pulled it a few miles. It was pretty darned cool when I opened the door here in Grand Junction, CO on a green GP38-2 to check the engine oil, and saw some Mandarin orange Frisco paint under the doors. To think we had a Frisco GP38-2 and a Frisco caboose, so many hundreds of miles away from any Frisco track, and so long after the merger was astounding. We have not had any 4 axle power here in a long time. I like to think my grandpa had ran that engine, and pulled that caboose too.
The caboose SLSF 1289 was donated 10/30/1997 by BNSF to the Lake County Historical Museum in Two Harbors, MN. They have renumbered it JFZ 111493. No idea what JFZ stands for. In 2000 it was leased to the Cliff Northshore Mining Company, where it remains in service today. Roger
That is pretty cool. So now I know of 3 Frisco cabooses that still operate, SLSF 1279, SLSF 1289, and a bay window. I think that is awesome. It would be fun to take my oldest boy, he is 9, on a trip and see one of them traveling the rails.
Also the caboose SLSF 1724 is in service at Spokane, WA. The caboose SLSF 1731 is in Mandan, ND. Roger
Roger, Do you have or know of photographs, specific address location or any other information on these cabooses? Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
