Autumn is in full swing, but winter is already knocking at the door. We’ve been trying to wrap up a few projects that are best handled before the real cold settles in.
This week came with plenty of leaf blowing; driveway, trails, platform, and even the caboose roofs. Leaves are just one of those chores that never seems to end this time of year.
The bigger, and far more exciting, project was giving P&LE 518 a much-needed exterior cleaning. That caboose was filthy. There was a coat of green, algae-like grime that covered just about everything. Our entire crew jumped in for the scrub-down: the boys tackled the lower half while my wife and I worked our way across the top. It wasn’t exactly warm outside, but with even colder days ahead, we were glad to get this one crossed off the to-do list.
After we hosed down 518, it was time to clear the water from all the pipes. We hooked up the compressor and pushed every last bit of water out of the system. No freeze worries now, but it does mean we’ll be lugging water jugs from home until spring.
Railfaning
If you spend enough time at Caboose Falls, you’ll eventually hear someone mention the “UPS Jet.” It’s not a real jet, of course, just the nickname railfans use for one of the fastest freight trains on the New Castle Sub. These high-priority intermodal trains are routed to avoid delays and often come through at full track speed.
The name isn’t official, just railfan shorthand. But it fits. When the UPS Jet roars through the valley with a long line of trailers in tow, you immediately understand why it earned the title.