The part 2 is asking if others have purchased a railroad car – likely a caboose – for their use in their home.
Our experience 10 years ago was exploratory with the intent of purchasing a caboose for our yard. Minor interior modifications were planned so it would be an office for my court reporter wife. Neighbors were solicited as to their objection to the cupola being seen from their backyard. Because of our yard is nearly a 1/3 acre and set down below the backyards of the other homes, the presence of the caboose would be negligible. However, city advice was to find out prior to any building. All the neighbors smiled, and asked why? Sensible responses. There was no concern other than “do we get to go in it.” There would be a city inspection for structure - granted, any concern was not significant and mainly for electrical.
The glitch was not in finding a caboose. One choice was $4,000. The BIG problem was a big one: Delivery. The body was to be on a flatbed with the caboose trucks separated from the body. Then…gulp…a giant crane would lift the body OVER the house and into our backyard. The trucks first had to be lifted and placed on short rail sections. All advice was to use the trucks as the support. With the required dexterity of a jeweler, a crane operator sitting in a cab in the middle of cul-de-sac was going to lift over our home this giant box and place in on two RR car trucks in the backyard – sight unseen?? Plus, clearly, any intent to have a “caboose” in the yard lost all novelty and interest if the body ended up juset being supported on cinder blocks so it would not have to be placed on those trucks. “Putting it one blocks? Heck, might as well get a container and cut a turret into it” offered one sage. The secondary problem, other than the estimated $10,000 for the crane, was insurance. “Hmmmm.” was the consideration by our home insurance rep. That ended the search, and sealed the outcome.
Your story?
Wendell
