Welcome Home, Caboose #507!
Oregon & California Caboose #507
In 2015, the Willamette Heritage Center was offered a unique treasure – 1909 Oregon & California Caboose #507. Since its retirement, the Caboose has rested in a forest outside of Eugene, Oregon. The property owner offered the caboose to the WHC in hopes that it could be restored and preserved as a symbol of the Willamette Valley’s past. After several years of preparation and coordination, it finally arrived in Salem on Friday, July 28th, 2017.
History
According to the 1913 ICC Roster list for Southern Pacific Cabooses, Caboose #507 was one of nine cabooses made by the Standard Steel Car, Co. for the Oregon & California Railroad (O&C) in 1909. Although technically purchased by the O&C and originally lettered to show it, the Southern Pacific Railroad had a controlling interest in O&C and this caboose was built following a standard SP C-30 class design. With the formal purchase of the O&C by the SP in 1927, our caboose was officially transferred. Maintenance cards for the car found in the SP archives show that most of the work done on the car happened in the Brooklyn rail yards in Portland and in Salem, suggesting that the regular route of this car was up and down the Willamette Valley on the tracks that run parallel to the museum site.
Interpretive Goals
Once the restoration of Caboose #507 is complete, visitors will be able to:
- Gain a better understanding of the purpose of the caboose and its role in local transportation history
- Learn about individuals who lived and worked around this car
- Be exposed to and tangibly interact with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical (STEM) principles related to the operation of a railroad in this area
The Caboose will be designed with an ADA accessible ramp and decking to allow all visitors the ability to experience its interior.
Progress
The relocation and restoration of the Caboose would not be possible without the generous donation of time, expertise, and resources from several individuals and organizations. Thank you to the following individuals, businesses, and organizations for your generous roles in getting Caboose 507 home!
Donors and Volunteers:
- Kay Lee & Dave Brown
- Ed Austin
- Carl & Sue Beals
- Danny & Sonja Bisgaard
- Corbey & Jeanne Boatwright
- Clinton Boatwright
- Nick Cantonwine
- Mike & Bev Carrick
- Jean Chamberlain
- Jon Clark
- Craig & Cherie Cline
- Christopher Clune
- John Clyde
- Bobbie Clyde
- David Craig
- Rich Davis
- Tom Dill
- Ann Marie Dill
- Donna Dyer
- Lolanda Frampton
- Rick Franklin
- Claire Fuller
- Courtney Gatlin
- Michael Gendel
- Charles Givens
- Loren Graber
- Scott Graber
- Cheryl Griffith
- Warren Haack
- Christopher & Lola Hackett
- Guy Hallman
- Martin E. Hansen
- John Hawkins
- Floyd Hulegaard
- Steve Kreins
- Meredith and Joel Kuhl
- Richard Laviolette
- Patti Lindquist
- Rod Loder
- Matthew Mabey
- Max Marbels
- Mary Carrol Tama & Dr. David Martinez
- Ila McCallum
- Tom McMullen
- Hoy McRobinson
- Bob Melbo
- Weisha Mize
- Anne Marie Neil
- Sean O’Harra
- Lynnea O’Neil
- Michael Panhorst
- Claire Phillips
- Kylie Pine
- Richard & Debra Pine
- Beth Robin
- Richard & Betsy Scott
- Emily Swart
- Ian Swenson
- Tony Thompson
- Alan Van Winkle
- Elisabeth Walton Potter
- Lloyd Wenzel
- Jaime White
- Laura Wilt
- John & Wendy Wyatt
- Jenna Wyatt
Businesses, Foundations, & Govt Entities:
- Albany & Eastern Railroad
- Boatwright Engineering
- Cascade Warehouse
- City of Salem Cultural Tourism Board
- Caternary Video Productions
- Caboose Crew
- Cougar Construction
- Ed Austin & Associates
- Financial Products & Services, Inc.
- Forslund Crane Service
- Miller Paint
- Oldham Crane Service
- O’Neill Pine Company
- Photo Electric, LLC
- Salem Alliance Church
- Salem Creekside Rotary Club
- Salem Downtown Rotary Club
- The Salem Foundation
- Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund
- Smith & Steel
- Trust Management Services
- Willamette Valley Railway
- Willamette University Atkinson Graduate School of Management