I was railfanning in and around the Junction City, GA area last weekend when I stumbled into the nearby small community of Howard, GA. In the side yard of a residence immediately across the road (old state route 96) from the NS, ex-CofG tracks is a wooden caboose, among other railroad artifacts. Does anyone have any information regarding this caboose? A long time ago, I was told that there was a wooden caboose painted and lettered for the Talbottom RR displayed at a fairgrounds off of SR 96 in this area. Is it possible that this may be that caboose? From what I could tell, the caboose had been repainted on the exterior so I couldn't see a road name. The caboose has a centered cupola with four windows.

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), July 29, 2002

Answers

Larry,

I may have a lead on the former G&F caboose from the Brown property. As soon as I find out something for sure I will let you know.

Stephen

-- Stephen S. Syfrett (ssyfrett@bellsouth.net), March 06, 2005.

Last weekend I revisited Howard and took a hard look at the rail car in question. Upon closer inspection, it is indeed not a bona-fide caboose but a mock-up on freight car trucks. I also found the site of where the Crackerland Fair was off of new SR 96. The old spur there w/ bridge is still intact, albeit overgrown, along with two ACL heavyweight passenger cars and a flatcar. However, I could not find the G&F/Talbotton caboose. Given its reportly poor condition over ten years ago, I assume the worst and surmise that it no longer exists.

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), April 16, 2003.

I'm not sure whether it's a bona-fide caboose or a mock up built up on a tank car, but if anyone is interested in seeing a picture of this rail car in question: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=12528

Eric

-- Eric Rickert (au_tiger777@hotmail.com), March 12, 2003.

i live in Howard, Ga and the train car that ur asking abt belongs to the Brown family. the train was used as a carnival ride for the Crackerland Fair. I believe the "caboose" was built on a flat car using normal building materials and is now a christmas decoration. they have track that runs from that house to the curve where old 96 and the new bypass come together......that track was dug up when the road was built and on the OTHER side of the bypass is where a train trestle bridge is built that ran that same track to the fairgrounds...

-- Andy Bell (rebelflag31039@hotmail.com), January 02, 2003.

Stephen -

I can't get in mind the tankcar frame "caboose," or whatever it is, that you're referring to, but in any case, yes there really was a G&F caboose on the Brown property lettered "Talbotton RR." I saw it in 1996 I believe. It was well down into a field west of Howard, adjacent to some other RR cars and the former AB&C Junction City depot. It wasn't visible from the old Ga. 96 highway and I don't think it's visible from the new bypass either, but it's located somewhere in between the two.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), October 15, 2002.

If this is the same car I looked at last year (and it sure sounds like it is...the location is right), it is not a real caboose, but was built up on a tank car frame by the owner of the property. When I was by, there were old Christmas decorations all around and this was well before the season. The owner reportedly has some track on the property that he used to run some sort of a train on for the local residents during Christmas time. Don't know much more about the former operation, but the "caboose" is a fake.

Larry, where is the G&F caboose you refer to?

-- Stephen Syfrett (syfrettinc@bellsouth.net), October 15, 2002.

Yes it's the same caboose, however, it is not a Talbotton (with an "n") caboose despite being lettered that way - it's actually a Georgia & Florida caboose that was moved from Douglas, Ga. I don't know the original G&F number - I couldn't find any evidence of a number when I looked at it some years ago.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), July 29, 2002.