Originally Posted by Moonman:
Hi IcyTrains,
I can only guess. This is an ARR original borne from their needs. It could be a work crew office, a job site office or a temporary caboose. Since ARR has retired their cabeese, this would make sense for a crew working a long train for setting brakes or cutting cars and such.
It's obviously a temporary car, as the unit can still be removed.
Send the photos to John at John's Alaska railroad. His contacts may have seen it or know of it. You may make photo of the week. Thanks for interesting photos.
Hi Carl, thanks for the reply and the link. I tried your link to John’s Alaska Train and got nothing. Maybe the server is down for repairs/upgrades. I’ll try that link again later.
ARR hybrid car I photographed could be considered a Pushing or Shoving platform type of Transfer Caboose? I have this idea from Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caboose .
“A transfer caboose looks more like a flat car with a shed bolted to the middle of it than it does a standard caboose. It is used in transfer service between rail yards or short switching runs, and as such, lacks sleeping, cooking or restroom facilities. The ends of a transfer caboose are left open, with safety railings surrounding the area between the crew compartment and the end of the car.”
While I can guess there is a need to have a crew member do switching where gravel is to be loaded, and 30 miles is a relatively short run. However, the ARR hybrid car I photographed does not have safety handrails.
IcyTrains Gene
