We have 2 cabooses. Both are way over 100 years old and showing their age. We donated both to museums for free if they paid moving expenses. Over the past 3 summers we have had excited, retired, RR men from all over the U.S. visiting the cabooses. Apparently they are more complete than any anyone has seen since they rode in them as part of their work. All the guys had wonderful stories to tell during their visits. Both museums have been raising moving funds and wading through the myriad of permits required to move, place and restore the cabooses. After 2 1/5 years of work, the Willamette Heritage Museum in Salem Oregon was the first to come up with the papers and funds. Unfortunately, the Brooks Museum could not coordinate with the move so their caboose is still on the hill.
Today was moving day.The museum RR volunteers and employees arrived early to festoon the side and back with a "Follow Me to the Willamette Heritage Museum" banners.
Just getting the crane and long-low-boy trucks up to the cabooses took some amazing driving (and me with my tractor to move dislodged roadside boulders and logs).
Our house is dwarfed by the crane.
Once set-up, they were ready to go as soon as the truck arrived.
The truck driver was AMAZING. It was quite a challenge to maneuver that long trailer backwards up the steep, narrow, twisting road. He was able to jockey it inch sideways here and inch sideways there until he high centered on an oak log pile and then knocked a large boulder from the high bank. No problem, once removed (by me) he was in place.
The museum employees and volunteers all in OSHA approved hardhats and reflective vests. To me, if the caboose got loose while in the air and I was under it, a hard hat would not make a difference. But then I am not on the payroll.
The boom being placed.
Up went the caboose...
and it flew through the air with amazing ease and all in one piece.
The placement on the low-boy proved problematic. The steps threatened the wheels and the fuel tanks were partially behind the wheel well rise. This move had been calculated by the inch of height and as it was a backroads route permitted to avoid bridges. But there were height limits (part of that regulatory process).
It took a bit of moving about and many support blocks until she ended up with a forward (more aerodynamic) tilt.
Just the "trucks" left on the tracks.
Alas in place but because she was swung around, all the signage had to be put on the other end and window protection moved to the now forward side.
A last pose with Dave and I...
and she was off with Vineman in a front row seat..
If she could make it out our road, piece of cake (well sort of. We heard several hours later when they called to see there the wheels were that they were picking up pieces that had fallen off in some farm town south of Salem.)
Of course what would be a visit to BrownStone Chinooks without a puppy visit?
A few hours later the truck for the wheels showed up.
Placement of them was quick and easy...
and off they went...
quickly followed by the crane.
All that is left is empty track to nowhere...
and the Brooks caboose.
After my last check of the site, I went to town to get groceries. It was not far down the road that I came upon the crane face-to-face with a UPS semi. I am not quite sure why but it appeared that no collision was involved.
OK, I know most people tuned in for the puppies.
They were mostly ignored by me except for their lying on their back positioning and nail trimming.
cuteness...
eat...
sleep...
Pretty much Day 10 in the whelping box.
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