Stars-spangled caboose
symbolizes bicentennial

From PACCAR WORLD, August-September 1976
published for employees of Pacific Car

Seventeen cabooses, built by Pacific Car and Foundry in 1948, are being returned home for refurbishing. The Alaska Railroad, owner of the cars, chose to have the first completed caboose symbolize the American Bicentennial.

The result is a caboose painted in the theme of the American flag. The car is white with red lettering. A blue background bearing white stars runs along the bottom and up one end on both sides of the caboose.

Well-known artist, Chester J. Mack of Yorba Linda, California, created the exterior art work and design. He also painted two decals - one of a polar bear, the other of an Eskimo woman and child which were applied one to each side of the caboose.

The caboose and two locomotives, decorated for the bicentennial, were used in Alaska as part of a Fourth of July celebration. The caboose was shipped to Seward by covered barge.

Since the bicentennial, the newly reconditioned caboose has been serving on freight runs from Seward and Whittier, on the south coast of the Kenai Peninsula, through Anchorage and Fairbanks.

This country is famous for its scenery, including 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. To the dismay of crews trying to keep schedules, moose in the area use the tracks as convenient trails in both winter and summer.

Before being returned to the northland, the bicentennial caboose received a royal refurbishing at Pacific Car and Foundry. As it is the first of the 17 units to be updated, the process took four weeks.

One by one, the other 16 cars will receive the same royal treatment. Time required for each unit may be reduced from four weeks to three weeks as workers become more familiar with requirements of the job.

Each car requires the skills of 25 different employees at PCF. All of the cars will be equipped identically, but only one has the bicentennial paint scheme.

The other units are being painted yellow with a wide, blue band running diagonally down each side of the car from the cupola. Yellow and blue are Alaska's official colors. The cabooses were formerly yellow with a black cupola.

Although the cabooses are in amazingly good shape after their 28 years of service, the work calls for a complete new interior. The addition of new equipment and some structural modifications assure the ultimate in comfort and safety.

Prior to refurbishing, many of the original items are removed. Off comes the wood furring, interior lining, insulation, window frames, running boards, and electrical and plumbing equipment.

Existing windows are covered with a metal sheet riveted and welded in place. Then new windows are cut and double glazed glass is installed. The interiors of the cabooses are relined with colored, fiberglass-reinforced plywood panels. The walls are gold and the ceilings are white.

New plywood floors are installed and coated with "ultradec," an epoxy floor coating that provides a durable-wear surface and seals all joints. The floors can be hosed down for easy cleaning.

Since the cabooses serve as headquarters for he conductor and as shelter, bunkhouse, and traveling quarters for the train crew, they are equipped with many of the comforts of home.

New reclining seats are installed, along with dinette tables, lockers, desks, and small refrigerators with water coolers. The lavatory compartments are equipped with stainless-steel sinks and biodegradable sanitary toilets.

The coal-burning stoves are replaced by oil-burning heating systems. Forced-air duct work circulates warm air throughout the cabins.

Heat loss is minimized by 3 inches of foam-in-place insulation in the walls, floors, and ceilings, and the double-glazed windows. All of these features combine to make these cabooses warm, comfortable work areas during the harsh, cold Alaska winters.

Other special features for service in Alaska include the cupola, designed with slanted end-sheets to prevent snow buildup. Should the temperature inside the cabooses drop below freezing, an automatic dump valve will empty the entire water plumbing system, thus protecting pipes against breakage.

Daylight in the winter is available for only a few hours around midday, so the interiors are equipped with ceiling lights, desk lights, and dinette table lights.

The exteriors are equipped with two 200-watt track lights at each end. For personnel safety, warning beacon flasher lights are installed atop the cupolas. Should the trains stop in an emergency, oscillating red signal lights, on the ends of the cars, are automatically switched on.

Occupant safety extends into other areas, such as acoustics. The noise level during operation is significantly reduced by sound-dampening bearing pads in the center plate and constant-contact resilient side bearings. The polyurethane insulation also deadens sound.

Although the interiors are new and the coal stoves have been replaced by oil burners, the cabooses will never lose their friendly atmosphere. The smell of fresh coffee brewing will never be missing. These modern cabooses will serve the Alaska Railroad for many years to come.