BURLINGTON NORTHERN (former Great Northern) CABOOSE #11205
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This rustic old wooden caboose was originally Great Northern Railroad caboose X202. It was built by Great Northern in September 1941 at their St. Cloud , Minnesota shops. With the 1970 merger of the Great Northern Railroad, the Spokane , Portland & Seattle Railway, and Northern Pacific Railroad, caboose X202 became Burlington Northern #11205.
The building of wooden caboose generally ended in the late 1940s as all-steel caboose construction was stronger, safer, and easier to maintain. However, a few wood cabooses were constructed upon steel underframes after all-steel cabooses were generally accepted.
During its last years of service on the Burlington Northern it was used in Seattle transfer service, mostly between Balmer and Stacy Street yards. BN retired the caboose in August 1972 and eventually sold it to Edward Krahel in June 1976.
BN #11205 was acquired by the Chapter as a donation from Ted Clay of Ashland , Oregon . Ted acquired it in 1993 as part of the auction of the Ashland property of Ed Krahel, where it was located. It was moved to the Medford Railroad Park in February 5, 1995.
The caboose interior is in reasonably good shape, although some restoration work will need to be done. It's the restoration of the caboose exterior that will be the biggest challenge.
Copyright 2021 by the Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society
X202 at Railroad Park in Medford, Oregon
X202 in service on the Oregon California & Eastern at Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1971
Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society
A Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society
Photo: Allen Dobney
