Utah State Railroad Museum introduces a Western Pacific caboose and a fully restored Merci Boxcar, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience two rare pieces of railway history in Ogden this weekend. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Visitors can explore Western Pacific Caboose No. 438 on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission at Union Station. This addition complements the GP35 locomotive acquired last year, strengthening the museum’s Western Pacific display.

Utah State Railroad Museum Adds Historic Caboose and Boxcar
The Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden has acquired a Western Pacific caboose, built in 1955, and it will be opened to the public for viewing on Saturday. | Museums at Union Station

Western Pacific Caboose at Utah State Railroad Museum

Hope Eggett, Museums at Union Station administrator, explained that the goal is to represent major railroads that once served Utah. Western Pacific was one of the last missing links in the collection.

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The caboose, built in 1955, retired in the 1980s when technology eliminated its necessity. It came from the Inland Northwest Rail Museum in Washington and was purchased for $16,000. Today, only 13 of these cabooses remain nationwide, making it a rare find.

Merci Boxcar Restoration at Utah State Railroad Museum

The Merci Boxcar, gifted to Utah by France in 1949 as gratitude for U.S. aid after World War II, has undergone a $100,000 restoration in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It will soon return to Ogden for permanent display in a covered area.

A special ceremony will welcome the boxcar back. Previously, it deteriorated outdoors, but the new setting will preserve its historical significance for future generations.

Museums at Union Station, which oversees the Utah State Railroad Museum and other exhibits, offers free entry Saturday during the Ogden Arts Festival. This event celebrates Ogden’s rail heritage and commitment to preserving history.

Source: www.deseret.com

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