A bright-red caboose at the end of a freight train has been a rare sight since the 1980s, when such cars began disappearing because of modern technology and changes in laws that mandated them.
But if you want to see one up close and personal, head to Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Vail.
There, a Southern Pacific caboose sits on rails that were used by trains that passed through the area from 1880 to 1887, said Martie Maierhauser, the park's director.
After the park bought the Cotton Belt caboose, which is 41 years old, it painted it a reddish color because it had been marked with graffiti, Maierhauser said.
The caboose has windows, seats, a platform on each end with a door, and a pop-out section where the brakeman sat.
The caboose provided shelter for the train crew at the rear of the train. It was fitted with a restroom, a radio room, a locker, a sleeping cot, a table and two heaters - one of which served as a stove.
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"We were interested in having a train-related display in the park because of the tales and legends about bandits who robbed trains on the Southern Pacific line near here and hid in Colossal Cave or the Rincon Mountains," Maierhauser said.
"Two train robberies occurred in 1887. One was in August of that year. The robbers caused a locomotive to overturn, along with a coal-tender.
"That same year, there was an amazing flood that took out seven miles of track and swept away 350 head of cattle in the area. It took out a trestle near here," she said.
Six rails from that trestle ended up buried in the Cienega Creek/Pantano Wash and eventually were rescued by rancher Rick Dailey and Don Kiefer, a former cave manager.
Dailey has worked at the mountain park's La Posta Quemada Ranch for about 40 years, and he helped install the rails in the parking lot near the ranch.
The late Joe Maierhauser, who operated the park for 51 years, acquired the caboose from a private owner for about $5,000 in January 1996.
"We need to restore the interior because it has asbestos in the flooring and the ceiling. It will be a big job, because asbestos removal is very costly," said Maierhauser, who's hoping to acquire grants for the project.
Once the caboose is restored, the park plans to rent it out for celebrations.
"The caboose attracts a lot of visitors," said Maierhauser, who noted that the park gets about 80,000 sightseers a year.
For more information about Colossal Cave Mountain Park, call 647-7275 or go to www.colossalcave.com online.
To reach the park, take I-10 east from Tucson to the Vail exit, No. 279, turn north and follow the signs for about six miles. All roads are paved.
Got an oddity?
Is there something you've noticed while driving through Tucson that has piqued your curiosity? Or is there some piece of Old Pueblo history you've wondered about? Drop us a line, and we'll look into it. Contact the Star newsroom at oddity@azstarnet.com or 807-7776.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com
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