By the mid-1980s, most cabooses on the D&RGW were living on borrowed time. Caboose 01489 was spotted in fresh paint near Provo on June 20, 1984. It was originally constructed by the Rio Grande at its Burnham shops in Denver. Prior to this repaint, the side windows were plated over due to a safety ruling by the FRA. The 01489 continued to serve on the D&RGW through both the SP and the UP mergers. By 1998 it was assigned to work in local service out of Pueblo, Colorado.
Have you ever watched cabooses, enjoyed their uniqueness, wondered about the men inside, or the jobs they do? Once an everyday sight on the rails, they have decreased in numbers, yet they are a very important part of railroad history.
