Pssst! ... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Caboose?

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Finally, out of desperation, Bartlebaugh contacted a broker (someone who brings supplies across the border for a price). The broker's fee put Chuck another $100 in debt, but it was worth it. The caboose was classified as scrap and brought into the country duty free. Since that time Chuck has bought other cabooses in Canada and has had no trouble bringing them into the United States . . . he just doesn't paint them until he's back home.

"Once across the border that first time, I was faced with another difficulty . . . where to park my caboose. The local railroad didn't want me on their sidings but, fortunately, a petroleum dealer owned the land under this one and he said I could park here. When the railroad decided to remove the tracks, the oil company bought them . . . and I've been here ever since for only $15 a month, which is about the least expensive rent I've ever heard of."

After getting settled, Chuck had to find a way to pay for the two cabooses. The passing thought he gave at the time to actually dealing in used railroad cars was dismissed because of the difficulty of finding the cars and the expense involved in moving one off the tracks. Still, not being eager to get into the 8-to-5 routine, he tried to think of alternative ways to make money.

What Bartlebaugh came up with was a series of schemes that would let him pursue his interest in railroads and make a living at the same time. The first was an idea for creating a shopping center out of several train cars and—if possible—an engine. Chuck figured he could lease the cars for use as retail stores—maybe even as a restaurant—and could then use his own caboose as both an office and a residence.

"This was a couple of years ago and my first experience in the business world. In the process of getting investors I came across a man who seemed very interested, so I explained my plan to him in detail. Once he had my idea to go with his money, he decided that I would be of no further use and he told me to get lost in very strong language. For what it's worth, my idea seems to be working out very well for him."

At about the same time—it was 1969 and the 100th anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad trip— Bartlebaugh had another grandiose scheme. Chuck's plan was to relive that first cross-country railroad jaunt by taking his caboose from New York to California and back.

Of course, there was that old nemesis . . . money. The cost would have been prohibitive to Chuck, so he went out again, looking for people to back him. "I guess I had another good idea because I was able to get my caboose carpeted and paneled for free as a promotional gimmick. Then I managed to interest a couple of railroads and they offered me free passage. It looked as if the trip was on."

By this time the newspapers had heard of Bartlebaugh's plans and were sending people out to interview him. He was a guest on a 1-1/2-hour TV talk program, Johnny Carson invited Chuck to appear on the "Tonight" show before the trip and a third TV talk show (no longer on the air) wanted to interview him at the end of the journey. One of the network news commentators even arranged for the transcontinental traveler to send in weekly progress reports once he was under way.

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