OC&E Woods Line State Trail Caboose 2006 - Klamath Falls, OR - Train Cabooses on Waymarking.com

Located at the main trailhead to the OC&E Woods Line State Trail, Oregon's longest linear park at 100 miles sits this bright, yellow caboose that was once utilized for hauling timber from various sawmills and operations in and around Klamath County for many decades.

I was able to determine from an ID label on the caboose that it was built in June, 1942 and rebuilt in September, 1999. I believe it ran its last haul on June 30, 1988 based off the label. There is a nearby historical placard at the trailhead that mentions the historic railway that ran through Klamath and reads:

THE OC&E LINE
"To know the Oregon, California & Eastern Railway, one must imagine conditions in Oregon in the early 1900's."
David F. Myrick, "Oregon, California & Eastern"

A century ago, the Klamath Basin held an inventory of nearly 35 billion board feet of timber. Between 1865 and 1900 small sawmills had cut some lumber for local use. Railroads were the key to a thriving forest products economy. The Southern Pacific line arrived in 1909 in Klamath Falls. In 1916, Robert E. Strahorn persuaded local investors to launch the Klamath Falls Municipal Railway to penetrate the pine forests for the eastern Klamath Basin. Strahorn bought out the line three years later and absorbed it into the OC&E. He announced plans to link the railroad north to Bend and east to Lakeview and Burns.

With fits, starts, and changes of ownership, the OC&E became a major log-hauling railroad. Although it never left Klamath County, its locomotives for eight decades hauled raw materials and finished products to mills and markets. By 1900, the railroad had been phased out. The line has been restored as the OC&E Woods Line State Trail, thanks to the national Rails to Trails project.

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There is also a quote at the bottom of this placard that mentions directions for railmen operating in a caboose and reads:

ATTENTION RAILMEN
"While moving, trainmen must observe track from rear of caboose for indications of
derailment or fallen logs. Between sunset and sunrise two Dietz lanterns must be
placed on rear of caboose to assist in this inspection."
Oregon, California & Eastern "Special Instructions"

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There is a parking area near this trailhead that can be accessed off Crosby Street to visitors to walk, bike or even ride a horse along the trail. No motorized vehicles are allowed on any part of this trail. The caboose can be visited up close but there is no access inside the caboose unless one happens to come across an OC&E volunteer passing by (the maintenance shop is just west of this trailhead).

Current Use: Trail static display. Type Of Caboose: Cupola, "Standard"

Visit Instructions:
Please visit the location of the caboose, brake van, or guard van, provide visit details through photo or narrative.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   10/04/2015 Rkoehn1 visited it