Making a Living by Buying and Selling Railroad Cars

By Chuck Ferrero
Published on January 1, 1972
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This is an example of a railroad car purchased and renovated as living quarters.
This is an example of a railroad car purchased and renovated as living quarters.
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The work crew fixing up an old caboose.
The work crew fixing up an old caboose.
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The rear view of a caboose.
The rear view of a caboose.
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The bedroom inside of one of the renovated cabooses.
The bedroom inside of one of the renovated cabooses.
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The living area inside of one of the cabooses, complete with the original stove.
The living area inside of one of the cabooses, complete with the original stove.

In the early morning, before most people get out of bed, I usually go for a long walk just to absorb the unadulterated sounds of nature . . . and it was on just such a walk that I discovered a purple caboose parked on a semi-deserted railroad siding.

Now it’s almost impossible–even at 5:30 a.m.–to be unaffected by a purple caboose sitting in a nearly abandoned area . . . and the yellow sunshine smile painted on the side of this one made it absolutely irresistable. Paying no attention to the hour or to the red cabooses on either side, I climbed right up on the platform of that smiling wonder.

The sound of my own knocking suddenly brought me back to my senses. Five-thirty in the morning is no time to be beating on the door of a purple caboose! After waiting a few moments and getting no response, I made a hasty retreat. I also made a mental note to return at a more reasonable hour.

My subsequent visit proved that I hadn’t been dreaming. There stood the happy caboose, sandwiched between what appeared to be three ordinary red ones. I cautiously stepped up on the purple car’s platform again and peered through the window in the door. With the exception of some carpenter tools and lumber, the interior was bare.

I was badly disappointed and was starting to leave when an automobile pulled up and a man in his early 20’s jumped out. He was wearing a smile as friendly as that of the sunshine face.

“Hi,” he said as if we were old friends. “Will you join me for a cup of coffee?” He was headed toward one of the red cabooses and, in somewhat of a daze, I followed.

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