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Former Alaska Railroad caboose changes tracks in life

by Christine Kim and Rich Jordan
Friday, October 16, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- When the Alaska Railroad retired five of its cabooses and sold two in an auction, a railroad fan decided to share his passion with the rest of Alaska -- and one of these cars is making its way to a new home. In tonight's Assignment Alaska, reporter Christine Kim and photojournalist Rich Jordan follow an Anchorage man as he moves his prize onto a new track.

It's the last call for a ride on Caboose 1041, and a special day for railroad buff John Whitney.

"I never dreamed that I'd be able to have that opportunity, because owning a private car can be very expensive," Whitney said.

On the tracks, he can't help smiling.

"Being able to stick your head out the window and feel the breeze rushing by and hearing the engine, hearing the whistle blow," Whitney said. "It's fantastic."

But for him, it's a bittersweet moment.

"It's the last time, probably, that the caboose will be on the rails. I mean, the working railroad," Whitney explained.

To Whitney, this particular caboose has special meaning.

"It was made in 1947 and then was shipped up here in ‘48 and then I think it started on the rail in ‘49, so it's been on the Alaska Railroad all its life," he said.

And for train conductor Ken Smith, it also brings back memories. 

"They had bunks. We had two bunks back here," Smith said, recalling the caboose's layout. "That was a heating duct that came back here, because the stove came out there and blew hot air back here."

A piece of history, coming to an end at a stop in Wasilla. But it's not over yet. A 50,000-pound train car is no easy task to move. It takes over two hours of measuring, altering and coordinating to roll the caboose safely onto this tractor-trailer.

Then it takes a ride off the tracks to its new home -- the Live Steamers facility in Wasilla.

"I actually got a piece of rail that was made in 1948, so it's as old as the caboose," Whitney said as the caboose slowly rolled into place from the trailer. "So it has a lot of history where it's going to go."

The 1041 finally brakes onto its new home, but leaves the door open for a different journey.

"It's much better to share something than to keep it to yourself, so that's why I wanted it here," Whitney said.

"This is what I'd like to restore it to," Whitney explained, holding a photo of a caboose in vintage Alaska Railroad colors. "A blue color with the ‘Alaska Railroad' and ‘1074' on it."

Whitney says this will be a project he's saving until the summer. For now, he's just enjoying the ride.

If you want to see this caboose up close, you'll be able to visit Live Steamers on weekends when it opens next summer.

Contact Christine Kim at ckim@ktuu.com and Rich Jordan at rjordan@ktuu.com