| Between 1912 and 1923, the D&RG(W) rebuilt five of the old worn out short cabooses in order to maintain a small fleet of durable and up-to-date cars. Eventually consisting of road numbers 0503, 0505, 0517, 0540, and 0574. these “rebuilds” These were more or less new cars that utilized much of the hardware of their old forerunners. These cabooses are referred to as “Class 5”. Favored by railroad crews, the car bodies were 25 foot in length and sported wider end platforms than the earlier long bodies and featuredg a more traditional “round” roof style.This beautiful Denver & Rio Grande Wester wooden caboose #0540 was photographed in Durango, CO by John W. Maxwell. The sepia color of this original photo makes it even more classic looking. |