Memorial Day at Caboose Falls was a mix of work and time spent with family—and for readers of this blog, you know that’s exactly what makes this place special.
Working on the Railroad
Everyone agreed that the day’s biggest win was finally hooking up running water in P&LE 565. It might seem like a small move, but for anyone familiar with caboose life, it’s a game-changer. No more hauling buckets just to wash your hands. Civilization has returned to our steel wheels.
Inside P&LE 518, we’re peeling back layers of history… literally. As we remove the water-damaged drywall, the caboose’s original steel bones are beginning to reappear. This weekend, we uncovered an original FRA glazing stencil still visible above the steel window frame. That wasn’t all – behind another section of drywall, we found marks from the past: the ghostly outline of where the conductor’s desk once stood, and a circular bolt pattern marking the mount for an overhead lamp. For history buffs like us, these remnants are like nuggets of gold. Each one adds another valuable link to the story of our old cars.
Signals
Perhaps the most exciting update involves our vintage railroad signals. We’re getting close to relighting the Baltimore & Ohio CPL (Color Position Light) and the old crossing signal. The CPL once served as a sort of railroad traffic lights, using color and position to guide train crews safely along the rails.
Relighting the signals has been on our wishlist since day one, but other projects always seemed to take priority. That changed this weekend. With the help of my father-in-law’s electrical know-how, we may have finally cracked the case. The culprit? A failed 12-volt transformer that is right at the heart of the system. A replacement transformer is already on order and heading our way. With any luck, we’re just one part away from seeing these historic signals blaze to life once more.
Trails, Trees, and a Little Farming
Out in the woods, we rerouted a section of the ravine trail, smoothing out a steep patch to make it safer and easier to navigate. Trail work is gritty business: shoveling, leveling, and reinforcing all take effort, but seeing visitors walk the new path with ease makes every blister worthwhile. Christian led the effort on this project, while Stacy and my mother-in-law handled cleanup, clearing leaves and debris like seasoned trail hands.
Along the driveway, we removed a few mid-size trees that were leaning into the vehicle path.
From our atrium container garden, we harvested fresh kale. Not exactly railroad work, but there’s a quiet pride in eating something you’ve grown yourself, especially after a morning of heavy labor.
A Railfan’s Holiday
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. No day at Caboose Falls feels complete without the rumble of passing trains. This time, we hit the jackpot. We spotted our first heritage unit, CSX 1869, the railroad’s tribute to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. (For those unfamiliar, heritage units are modern locomotives painted in classic schemes that honor the railroads of the past.) As it thundered past, we waved our flags at the crew. It was our small but heartfelt Memorial Day salute from the trackside.
Family, Food, and the Right Kind of Chaos
Despite the full slate of projects, we made time to enjoy the day. We fired up the grill for a classic Memorial Day cookout: hot dogs, bratwurst, and even grilled pineapple.
Christian dropped an old dead tree across the stream, instantly turning it into a makeshift bridge. The other boys quickly turned it into their newest adventure.
Between the smell of charcoal, the rumble of freight trains, and the kids’ laughter bouncing off the caboose walls, it was exactly the kind of day that we love. Caboose Falls isn’t just about preserving history. It’s about making memories.
Every project brings its share of challenges, but each step forward feels worthwhile. Stick around. There’s always something new happening down the tracks.