Union Pacific 25198 |
Last Update: Nov 1, 2015 |
In early March, 2009, a new caboose arrived on the OPR. This is Chris McLarney's caboose, UP 25198. Chris is famous as the person who helped begin the restoration of the SP&S 700 and formed the PRPA, which now oversees the maintenance and operation of that steam engine. Some of Chris's history with the SP&S 700 can be found here. Chris and the OPR go back to at least the 1980s when Dick Samuels used his newly acquired PTC No. 100 to pull the SP&S 700 from Oaks Park to begin its restoration. UP 25198 is a class CA-4 caboose of the Union Pacific Railroad, built in November 1944, it was the 2nd to last CA-4 class caboose built for the UP. It was retired from the UP on July 11, 1985. More information can be found on this page. The caboose has been restored mechanically by Chris McLarney and is in excellent condition. It has recently under a complete exterior paint job, including correct markings for a UP caboose in service in the 1970s. It is currently on display at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center and is occasionly used for excursion service. Chris passed away in October 2015 and he willed this caboose to the OPR. The OPR is now officially the new owners and care taker of this caboose and will continue to maintain, operate and display it in honor of Chris. See below for a detailed history, including operational history of the 25198. |
History of the OPR - East Portland Branch - Molalla Branch - Videos of the OPR in Action News & Upcoming Events - Photos of Past Events - Roster of the OPR |
History of the OPR - East Portland Branch - Molalla Branch - Videos of the OPR in Action News & Upcoming Events - Photos of Past Events - Roster of the OPR Oaks Pioneer Transportation Museum |
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This is one of the few historical pictures we have of the 25198 when it was in service with the Union Pacific. Photo taken by Chris McLarney in 1971. |
On May 2, 2009, the 25198 was pulled behind a passenger train on the OPR for the first time. This event, organized by a friend of Chris McLarney's, Susan Boos, was in honor of Chris's birthday and hosted a number of friends from Chris's 1973 8th grade class of Laurelhurst Elementery School. |
Recently, while being moved in a mainline railroad yard, the 25198 sustained damage to both couplers and draft gear. It's not known exactly what happened, but repairs had to be made before the 25198 could be moved again on the railroad. |
The consist for the caboose special. The yellow caboose is Chris's caboose. Check out our roster page in the next few days for a write up and more pictures of this caboose. |
LIterally a few minutes after passing Oaks Park Station southbound, a freak thunderstorm came up an downed a tree just north of Oaks Park. The tree took out a power pole and power lines and everything fell across both the spring water trail and the OPR tracks. The fire department was called and the trail and railroad were closed until repairs could made. |
Susan Boos photos of the Chris McLarney caboose ride and birthday event! |
Soon after arriving on the OPR, the caboose was set out on the McBrod Spur, south of the Milwuakie shops. These are some of the first photos of the 25198 on the OPR, taken in March, 2009. |
Repairs being made while the 25198 was stored at the Mt. Hood Railroad with the help of Bruce Moore (pictured) of Standard Rail Service. |
On June 18, 2009, the OPR hosted a tour from the N scale national modelers convention and part of the display was Chris McLarney's caboose. |
Interior pictures of the 25198. Chris has spent many hours restoring this caboose to as close to original condition as possible. And that includes a lot of very original union pacific equipment. This is something you don't see on a lot of cabooses. Often times, the cabooses are stripped or modified for comfort or whatever it's new use is going to be once surplused. But this is about as close as you can get to what a conductor saw and used when he rode the 25198 on the Union Pacific. |
Pictures from August 2009 showing Chris's painting project progress. In these pictures, most of the caboose has been repainted and some lettering applied. Full Union Pacific lettering and number will soon follow. photos 8-09 |
New pictures show some additional detail work to the exterior paint by Chris. Photos 9-09 |
Chris McLarney's Union Pacific Caboose 25198 |
Chris McLarney owner and restorer of this beautiful example of a historically correct Union Pacific Caboose |
The caboose, freshly repainted in correct UP colors and markings being used on a freight run on the OPR East Portland Branch in October, 2009. Pictures courtesy of Chris McLarney |
Historical & Restoration Related Photos |
Operational Photos on the OPR |
On October 31, 2009, the caboose was pulled as part of a double header photo op, for the OPR website. |
Paint is effectively completed and the caboose looks beautiful! Photos 10-09 |
On July 10, 2010, the OPR brought out Chris's caboose once again for a private run with Chris's brother Kelly, nephew miles, along with Amtrak Road Foreman Pete Cozzi and his son Grant. Engine was the historical No. 100, also being brought out to charge the batteries. |
Photos courtesy of Chris McLarney |
Two historical photos of the 25198, dates unknown. |
Detailed History of the 25198 |
UP25198 operational history by Chris McLarncy. While the car undoubtedly travelled over most of the system in various capacitys for many years, I have yet to find any documentation at all. What I can speak to is my first encounter with the car, on a rainy afternoon in about 1971.The photo that started it all was taken with a Kodak Brownie 127 camera, at the end of N.E.44th ave, as the car was inbound to Albina. As I was later to learn, the car was often used on what was Known as the Rockwood local, which served the various lineside industries along UPs Graham line. Switching zone 3 apparently covered all the industries from the Willamette river up past 82nd ave, zone 4 covered the Rockwood industrial park in Gresham, and on out to Troutdale. Everything I learned about the car are related to the documents I recovered inside the car after it arrived here in 1991.The most interesting to me were a number of switch list carbon copys found stuffed into the corner of the storage locker under the right cupola bench. Other items were found in the Conductors desk and the right cupola bench locker. Switch lists There are a number of switch lists dating from 28 Jan.1975 to 31 Mar.1975. All show 25198 in consist. Most have locomotive numbers, NW-2s 1043,1088,1080,1086,1089,1033,1090,1032,1031, SW-7s 1827,1807,1829. Industries served include Barker Mfg., Hyster, Albina fuel, Porter Scarpelli grain, Western Electric, Discount fabrics, Graybar, Western Paper, Pacific Northern Plastics Insulation, in zone 3,Firestone,Lennox,John Deere, B.M.Towne, Western auto, Interlake, ,Northwest Publishers, J.P.Stevens, ,N.W.Tire Retreaders, Cotter, Libby, McNeil, &Libby ,in zone 4. Most show the name that appears to be “Crisp” on the Foremans line. I recently found 2 lists for Burley, Id. in the A-L seat bunk ,for 1Dec.1979,no loco or cab no. So the car apparently left Portland on occasion. There are 3 larger format lists showing the same industries with track numbers, but no Loco or Cab no., or date. 1 large list for Reynolds metals at Troutdale, 8Aug.1984, no loco or cab no. 1 list for Garfield, Utah. 5Mar.1985 showing cars destined for Salt Lake city, no loco or cab no. Conductors car & tonnage report 3 different reports, first showing Extra east, Conductor Walters, depart station no.345-73,arr.34-161, 19 Jan. no year, locos UP1403,1405[SDP-35],427B[SD24B]2022,2028[GP38-2]Cab25198,and 35 cars. The other 2 have same loco consist reversed,with31 cars. Miscellaneous Teletype printout to C&E Sweep train to pick up and spot cars at Cascade Locks. Issued at The Dalles,Or.28 Dec.1984 Voice block clearance form to UP2040 at Troutdale, Or. 31 July,1984. 2 weeks of time slips for Train TRD6,at station 1760[Troutdale]showing work at 1765[Hemlock],1732[east of Cascade Locks], 1733[Cascade Locks],1712[Hood river].Conductor R.E.Ordway, Brakemen J.A.Holt, E.L.Ellam. Engineer Foord. Locos UP 2039,2031,2020[GP-38-2].Dated 15 Dec. to 31 Dec.1982. |
UP 25198 known history by Chris McLarney. UP class CA-4 caboose, built 10-44,Pullman standard car mfg. Michigan city,In d.plant. Original no.3898 . Mechanical Description The carbody and underframe are of riveted steel construction, with a relatively plain interior of tounge &groove & plywood construction. Original exterior paint job was UP synthetic red, wich is basically brown, with white lettering. The original trucks were of oak and steel construction, with a sprung bolster and drop equalizers. 4 1/2”x 8 friction bearings. Type E couplers. ” AB”brakes. The interior finish was, and is a light Institutional green in a line through the middle of the carbody windows on up. The lower part is a Forest green much like that found in a steam loco cab. The floor is painted Maroon. It had a coal stove, water tank and wash basin, drinking water cooler, and kerosene lanterns. The toilet was a straight pipe through the floor. There were 4 seat bunks, one of which was partly used for coal storage. The area under the cupola benches contain various lockers and shelves for equipment storage, clothing , paperwork, toilet, and an ice bunker. The Conductors desk and chair are in the B-R corner. Ll windows were equipped with 3/16”safety glass. All side windows and carboy end widows were equipped with shades and could open, as could the top door windows. Major Changes UP cabooses were changed to the Armour yellow paint scheme in about 1947.The roof remained synthetic red. The lettering was red, trucks and under frame were black .Electric lighting provided by batteries was installed about 1952.Trucks were replaced about 1955 with cast steel inside swing hangar, drop equalized trucks with 5xAAaction bearings. These are the trucks it had when I photographed it in 1971. In April 1959, a change in AA interchange rules eliminated the use of 4 digit reporting marks for freight cars .CA-A cars wich were the first of the all steel cars were put into the 25000 seires. 3898 became 25198. At some point, probably late 60s,early 70s, the stove was replaced with a Vapor oil stove, and a Microphone toilet and treatment tank were installed. The A-R bunk was replaced by a metal bench ,and the B-L bunk was replaced by a small metal bench and fuel tank for the stove. About 1980/81,the car received its’ current cast steel, outside swing hangar, drop equalized trucks, on 5 1/2x10 roller bearings. A 2 way radio and 110 to 12 volt battery charger was installed. Unlike other cars,a n axle driven alternator was not used. In order to become compliant with the FAR 223 Safety Glazing Standards, all original safety glass was replaced by ½” Lean plastic, routed down on the edges to 3/16” to fit the original frames. The end facing cupola and car body windows had their original frames replaced with round edge steel masks welded in place. Electric marker lights were added to both ends of the cupola. At this time, the car was re lettered in the large scheme, with a large stick on safety slogan, ”Safety is an equal opportunity for all” applied. The car remained in this condition to its’ retirement in 1986. |