This story begins in June 2007 when I received a letter from Bruce Chandler, CEO of the Jackson & Burke Railroad. Mr. Chandler explained that the J&B was upgrading equipment and Caboose #205S4 was available. Negotiations were brief and the Canldewood Valley Scenic Railway agreed to become the new owners of old #205S4. Since we were both scheduled to attend a meeting at the Ironwood, Peter’s Pond and Western in Nepean , Ontario it was agreed that the J&B would arrange transfer services through to the IPP&W and the CVSRy would arrange transfer services back to Western Connecticut.
The time came for the meeting at the IPP&W and it was agreed that a preliminary meeting would be held at the Northland RR operated by Doug Matheson in Manotick, Ontario. After much pleasantries were exchanged, it was agreed that transfer from the Northand RR to the IPP&W would be arraigned by the CVSRy and title to #205S4 was officially transfered at Manotic, Ontario.
Several days of extended meetings any merriment followed at the IPP&W. Visiting railroads displayed and ran their favorite equipment on the IPP&W. The CVSRy was no exception displaying and running a consist of vintage RS-3’s and a wooden reefer with the J&B 205S4 bringing up the markers. There must have been an error made when in the orders for return of equipment to the CVSRy were drawn up, as J&B 205S4 was not included in the consist returning to the US. This error was most likely due to the extended celebrations.
The CVSRy successfully returned to Connecticut with what they believed to be all equipment accounted for. Within 24 hours a call was received from Fred Mills, CEO of the IPP&W. Mr. Mills reported that a J&B Van was found abandon on a siding at Craig Leigh. Mr. Mills had been in contact with Mr. Chandler of the J&B only to learn that the van had been transferred to the CVSRy, however new reporting marks had yet to be stenciled. Mr. Mills then contacted me. After an embarrassing moment admitting that the CVSRy crew had in fact forgotten they owned the caboose, we made arrangements to transfer the van to Connecticut via truck.
Several weeks passed. A suitable truck route had yet to be found when it was learned that Mr. Bill Scobie, CEO of the Northern Division of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad of Aylmer Quebec, would be making an office car move to the USA to attend the Narrow Gauge convention in Portland, Maine. Mr. Mills immediately contacted me to see if the CVSRy was also taking an OCS to Portrland. We were not, but were aware that Leighton Carlson, CEO of the Shade Gap & Neelyton RR of Branford, CT would be attending the meeting in Portland. An appeal was made, by Mr. Mills to Mr. Carlson, on behalf of the CVSRy, to include the J&B Van in his consist upon returning to Connecticut. Mr. Carlson, not being Canadian, was not familiar with the term ‘Van’ and was thinking Mr. Mills was speaking of a type of truck. Mr. Carlson assumed the move would require a flat car and a means to load the van, so Mr. Carlson contacted me for approval of the additional costs. When I explained that a Van and a Caboose were one in the same, Mr. Carlson agreed to add our caboose to his consist on returning to Connecticut.
And so, little J&B 204S4 continued it’s journey from Virginia to Connecticut. Now having traveled through 8 states and two provinces, the caboose arrived in Branford Connecticut in late August of 2007. The final transfer from Branford to New Fairfield would prove to be the most difficult. Several moves were planned, but a problem always arose. In the Spring of 2008, Metro North Commuter Railraod finally agreed to allow the caboose to travel over their rails, however this plan failed as well due to lack of available crew on the only day MNCR would allow the move.
19 months after #205S4 arrived in Manotick, it looked as if a plan for transfer was finally worked out. Number 205S4 had been transferred by the SG&N RR at Branford to the Valley Railroad at Essex, CT. Since MNCR would no longer allow the caboose on their rails, the final leg of the journey would have to be made by truck. Preliminary plans to pick up #205S4 from the VRR were made for November 9, however due to the overwhelming success of the second Thomas Weekend at the VRR, there was no room in the parking lot to position the CVSRy’s truck to load the caboose.
Not willing to admit failure, another transfer was scheduled for November 28. This time a successful transfer was made and Caboose #205S4 was trucked back to New Fairfiled and placed on new home rails.
This must be the most well traveled caboose on the CVSRy roster:
Origin: Jackson & Burke Railroad, Burke, VA
Transfer: Northland RR, Manotick Ontario Via Pennsylvania, New York & Ontario
Transfer: Ironwood, Peter’s Pond & Western, Napean, Ontario
Transfer: Rio Grand Southern at Aylmer, Quebec via Quebec
Transfer: Shade Gap & Neleyton at Portland Main Via Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine
Transfer: Shade Gap & Neleyton at Brandford, CT Via New Hampshire, Massachusetts & Connecticut
Transfer: Valley Railroad at Essex, CT
Destination: Candlewood Valley Scenic Railroad at New Fairfield, CT
The management of the CVSRy wishes to thank everyone involved in this epic journey and welcomes Jackson & Burke Caboose #205S4 to it’s new home.
What’s with that number anyway 
