GN X181

[Anonymous]

This is a very unusual caboose and I have two questions for the forum:

1) Did it have a door on both sides of the box car portion? All of the photos I have seen of this caboose are made from the same side.

2) What did the GN use this carboose for? Branchline less than box car lots? Branchline mail service? MOW use? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Larry Pursell

[jrbernier]

Isuspect you are talking about the 'Hutch' caboose. This car was built on the frame of a boxcar by the Waite Park Shops, and use on the Hutchinson bracch in Minnesota. It had baggage doors on both sides and a model has been imported in HO scale. The Hutch line had a sort of mixed train service for years and the caboose was a fixture on the line even into the BN era. The baggage section carried parcels and LCL cargo.

Jim Bernier

[GN-Rick]

Larry, the Great Northern Railway Historical Society has published 2
Reference Sheets on this particular car. They are sheets # 11 and # 132.
they contain full descriptions, technical data, scale drawings, (both sides)
and numerous photos. You can find out about joining and ordering at
www.gnrhs.org. They have an extensive list of reference sheets on almost
all GN-related subjects and these are available for purchase at a reasonable
price. Hope this helps.