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Caboose restoration paused as Railroad Museum eviction looms; town plans to move work in‑house
Summary
Trustee Mac McDonald reported the caboose restoration will be moved after the Railroad Museum evicts the piece next month; materials are largely on hand, siding and cupola work remain, and budgetary and space constraints were noted.
Trustee Mac McDonald told the board April 13 that the caboose restoration project will likely move from the Railroad Museum to town property after the museum issues an eviction next month.
McDonald said the project remains “stripped to studs” but that the frame is correct and siding has been milled. The board had approved a $50,000 overall budget with $30,000 allocated for materials; McDonald said material costs are approaching the material budget while labor hours remain modest to date. He described complications with site access and shop clearance—moving the caboose into the town shop will require addressing door‑height constraints and removing a broken transom window to create room.
McDonald said the railroad partnership has been strained (with tourism and fuel costs putting pressure on the museum), but that relations appeared to have calmed and volunteers including Chris Frey and Austin were helping advance the work. The board discussed logistics for moving the caboose, the need for additional labor and potential painting costs, which may exceed current estimates.
