Virginia & Truckee Coach-Caboose No. 1 was built in 1868 by the Central Pacific Railroad in their Sacramento shops as a private car for the officials of the railroad. It is awaiting restoration and is on display in the annex building of the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, NV.
The text of the exhibit sign follows:
Virginia City & Truckee Railroad
Nevada - Built Coach - Caboose No. 1
Built in 1869 by the V&T shops in Virginia City, this was the first of four coach-cabooses, and brought up the rear of the first train between Virginia City and Carson City in January 1870.
Designed for caboose service, it also carried third class passengers and had freight doors. Its cost is listed as $3,822, and was originally painted maroon with a light green letter board which was lettered with V.C.&T. No. 1 in dark green.
In 1873 the coach-caboose was renumbered No. 8 when the V&T received its new passenger train from Kimball Car Works in San Francisco, and the coach was refurbished and returned to service. In 1908, the aging car was rebuilt into a maintenance car for the V&T, and then converted to a sleeper, diner and work room for the Interstate Commerce Commission valuation crew in 1915.
March of 1923 saw the car remodeled again, this time into a cook and dining car for M.O.W. crews. The freight doors were removed at this time.
The car was sold to MGM Pictures in August 1947 for $1,550, where it remained until 1970, when it was purchased and restored as No. 8 by Ronald Steiner.
Acquired by the Nevada State Railroad Museum in 1988, coach-caboose No. 8 continues to see operating duties during scheduled steam-up and special events.
Below is information from the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum
website .
NEVADA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
V&T Coach-Caboose No. 8
Virginia & Truckee Coach-Caboose No. 8 was built in 1869 for $3822 by the V&T shops, then located in Virginia City. Originally it was Virginia City & Truckee Railroad (the name at that time) No. 1. It was designed for caboose service, which in those days included carrying third class passengers, and brought up the rear of the first train between Carson City and Virginia City in January 1870. After the V&T's Reno extension was completed in 1872 and the railroad purchased new cars Nos. 1-4 for the first class passenger train, the old caboose was taken into the shops for refurbishing, and returned to its old service in 1873 as No. 8.
As years went by, No. 8 saw less and less service. In 1915 it was converted to a combination sleeper, work room and diner for the the Interstate Commerce Commission valuation crew. In March/April of 1923, the side doors were removed, and the car was converted to V&T MW construction cook and dining car, still as No. 8. In October 1945 it was resurrected as a club car, and given the name Julia Bullette (misspelled for Julia Bulette of Virginia City) for a Lions Club excursion.
The car was sold to Metro-Goldwin-Mayer in August 1947 for $1,550. On May 16 1970, it was auctioned to Ronald G. Steiner for $3,250, and it was restored as V&T passenger caboose No. 8. Transferred April 10, 1973 to Short Line Enterprises and restored for continued movie service, the Nevada State Railroad Museum acquired it in 1988. It is now operated for special events by the Museum, and is awaiting its turn for a full historical restoration.