After sitting for over 30 years, NWP Caboose 13 got to roll the rails and delight on-lookers at its new home in Willits.

Having moved in October, 2003 to the new Redwood Empire Railroad History Project's Engine House at the Mendocino County Museum, the caboose has many opportunities to get out in the sun and to be admired by visitors.

It's first major public encounter after arrival was back in December of 2003, when it greeted over 300 attendees at Roots of Motive Power's first annual "Memories In Motion" show. This event displayed dozens of antique model trains, saw Santa Claus arrive on steam locomotive #7, and had visitors admiring the fine restoration work accomplished to bring #13 back to life.

On May 14th, Roots of Motive Power and the Mendocino County Museum hosted "School Days," with five classes of local grade-schoolers getting a chance to see the caboose, ask questions like "who worked in a caboose?," and crawl up into the cupola.

The first public outing for Caboose 13 was, appropriately, the Annual Banquet of the Society, which included a reception acknowledging the completion of the caboose. Society members were treated to short rides on Roots track, pulled by Arcata and Mad River Railroad GE 44-tonner #104.

In June, the caboose went to work, being tagged on the rear of a work train which was used for training during Roots annual Railroad Safety and Operations Class. For two days on June 6 and 7, the work train was used for practice in making couplings, connecting air hoses, conducting air tests, and using proper hand signals.

June 13 saw a visit to the caboose by the Mendocino County Historical Society. They were guided through the caboose by Bruce Evans, who explained the history of the caboose and the restoration that brought it back to life.

A couple of weeks later, on June 26th, Caboose 13 was out again, this time thrilling a group of model railroaders from around Northern California. This group, consisting largely of former railroad employees, concentrates on the modeling of early logging operations, and found Roots an ideal venue for examining such equipment.

July 4th was an annual "steam-up" for Roots of Motive Power, which drew around 300 visitors to see steam donkeys, steam shovels and other industrial equipment in operation. While the caboose remained in the cool of the Engine House, it was visited by several hundred steam and rail enthusiasts.

The caboose continued to see small numbers of visitors during the summer, as Roots and Museum docents provided personally guided tours of the caboose on selected days.

On September 11th, Roots held its annual Steam Festival and Barbecue, an event which draws several hundred guests. Once again, steam was the primary attraction, but when the train went and hooked onto Caboose 13 and pulled it from the Engine House, a crowd formed and cameras clicked.

Caboose 13 may get out yet again this year, for some maintenance work on its air brakes, but will surely be visited once again in December by hundreds of guests (including Santa) as Roots once again holds its "Memories In Motion" Christmas Show.

And next year is shaping up already, as the Railroad Safety and Operations Class will use the caboose in February, and another modeling group is looking at using the caboose in June.

So Caboose 13 is alive and well, treating visitors to a bit of history, and remaining in good condition during its stay in Willits. The hope is, of course, that one day it will be able to return to NWP rails, where it can roll along as it did for decades.

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This special NWP Caboose #13 Campaign contains several levels of contribution available for your support. Generous contribution and in-kind donations have already been pledged by our members and good friends. Please consider a contribution at any level of support. We welcome your participation!

To view the Contribution Form, click on either version listed below. To send in your contribution, print out the form, fill it in and mail it along with your check or money order to: NWPRRHS, P.O. Box 667, Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0667.

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