Blasterz are not sure what a primarily Midwestern RR caboose is doing out here in Santa Fe/Southern Pacific RR country, but we will put that aside for now and just enjoy this foreign caboose far from home.
The CB&Q merged with three other railroads to form the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970. In 1995 the BN bought the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe RR, so maybe that's how this strange caboose in a weird color scheme for this area got here.
Also making us scratch our heads is the undeniable fact that it was the Southern Pacific RR that went through Carrizozo -- not the Santa Fe, and the SP is now one of over 100 railroads that form the modern Union Pacific RR. In fact, the UP main through town is just 2 blocks from here. So this Burlington route caboose got here on UP rail to sit in a town that never saw anything like it go by. Hmmm.
A little more digging reveals that at one time this caboose was labeled a fake -- a Burlington Route caboose 10513 repainted in CB&Q colors. Then another caboose researcher claimed that it was never in BN colors, that this is a real CB&Q caboose, and that he saw it brought to town in the proper CB&Q color scheme (with pictures). Well, all that that makes much sense as anything else about this weird caboose.
See: (
visit link)
"[original listing] Carrizozo - BN 10513 as fake CB&Q 10513, steel, wide vision, built 1970, location US 54."
Reply: Roger,
I sent you an email about 3 years back about the CB&Q 10513 @
Carrizozo, New Mexico. I believe it was never painted in BN colors. I
first photographed this caboose in the UP yard at Carrizozo as it
came in on 2 flat cars. The main body was on one car and the trucks
on the other. The UP guys in the office told me that it was going on
display in town but they didn't know anything more as of yet. Later,
I located it just off Highway 54 near the school where it is set up
as a welcome center for Carrizozo. They removed the original end
doors and put house doors on it and put a ceiling fan up in the
cupola. What bothered me was that someone painted a scene over the
CB&Q emblem on the side facing the road. The other side is still
good. Anyway, this caboose came into town with intact original CB&Q
silver/red paint. I can post a few photos if anyone who like to see
what it looks like. . . "
Finally we have this: (
visit link)
"CARRIZOZO VISITOR WELCOME CENTER / CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. BOX 567
CARRIZOZO, NEW MEXICO 88301 -USA
Location: On Northeast side of town.
Phone: 505-648-2732
Web Site: (
visit link)
RAILCAR(S) ON DISPLAY
Comments/Directions:
Original silver and red CB&Q caboose # 10513 on a track display, used as a city visitor's center. Paint scheme is just before BN merger."
After the waymark was posted, Blasters got a VERY HELPFUL email from the guy who emailed Roger (above) about this caboose. We are sharing his email in its entirety:
"CB&Q wide vision cupola cabooses were numbered from 13590 thru 13714.
CB&Q did not have any steel cabooses with 10000 - 10999 numbers.
There was a 97 caboose order built by Morrison for the BN in 1970 & 1971 with numbers in the 10500 - 10596.
None of these were ever lettered for CB&Q while in service.
Neither CB&Q nor BN ever had a steel, wide vision cupola waycar with 5 windows on either side."
Anyhoo....
This caboose is on display on the US 54 in downtown Carrizozo. It has a little blue burro for a friend.