Highlight from Coupland--Coupland’s Caboose is Level on New Ties

After years of fundraising and planning,  on March 14, 2018, the Coupland Civic Organization (CCO) gets the caboose level on new ties.

If you go through Coupland, be sure to look at the historic Depot and caboose next to the Old Coupland Inn.  The Coupland Civic Organization (CCO), a non-profit community group, owns the Depot and caboose and members have spent years doing fundraising events, first, to rescue and renovate the Depot, and now to maintain the Depot and to repair the caboose.

On March 14, the CCO took a big step.  Volunteers who work on old railroad cars and facilities got the caboose leveled and resting on new ties and ballast (the rock that goes under and between the ties).  Barbara Piper, CCO Caboose Coordinator says, “Volunteers who have a love of railroads were a big force in getting this phase of the caboose restoration completed.  The volunteers, J. R. Leal, Mark Dixon, and Paul Phalen do this work on their own time.” 

Barbara continues, “They subsequently spoke with Al Friede of Hafco Services.  Al responded with a donation of two bundles of ties and spikes.”  Al also donated the labor for himself and his crew of six men plus their track tools to get the caboose level. 

CCO members provided a breakfast of kolaches from Taylor’s Kolache Shoppe.  They also served a lunch that featured tamales from Julie at Tamales To Go, homemade beans, rice, and guacamole, plus ribs, and homemade cookies and brownies. 

            The project involved pulling the caboose forward with a backhoe, off of its old ties, unfastening the rail from the old ties, removing the old  rotten ties, removing several feet of soil, leveling the ground, and putting down new ties.  Then the rails were fastened to the new ties, the crew made sure everything was level, and then put the ballast under and in between the ties to insure a solid foundation.  Finally, the backhoe gently pushed the caboose back to its permanent location--on its new ties and leveled rails. 

            It was quite a sight to see the heavy caboose start moving.  Caboose Coordinator Barbara Piper, who has worked so hard to get the caboose leveled and restored, said, “When I saw the caboose start moving, I actually got chills.  It was an amazing sight.”  To see a video of the moving of the caboose, go to the Coupland Civic Organizations’s Facebook page. 

            Keep checking back, because when the caboose is finished, the CCO plans to have a children’s museum in it, where the kids can get up into the cupola.   There are plans to have it and the Depot open and staffed with volunteers on the weekends.