On April 14, 2003 we started what ended up being a long, nerve-wracking experience. We had hoped to be able to move it within one day, but it ended up being two and a half days.

I got to the site early, just before a parade of vehicles from the crane company arrived, including two large tractor-trailers. One would carry the body of the caboose, the other the rails, which we would need to set the caboose on, and the wheels. Also of course was the massive vehicle that included the crane. We weren't sure whether the caboose would hold together once it was finally hoisted up. Being so old, rusted and rotted, we were afraid it might crumble under the pressure. But we also knew the body of the caboose was made of a steel and hoped it was as strong as it was supposed to be.

I was working for CBS News at the time in Miami and knew this had the potential for being an interesting story, so I reached out to Little Rock CBS affiliate station KTHV-TV 11, which sent a photographer. They ended up producing a really nice feature from the angle of, as anchorwoman Anne Jansen put it, "a Miami man has come home to central Arkansas to fulfil a childhood dream."

(Left) This is how I found the caboose, its faded red paint on the exposed side, in the shadows of trees. (Middle) The ladders were still fairly sturdy. Also viable is the peeling paint under the roof. (Right) This side of the caboose was shielded by trees and didn't get hit directly by sunlight, so it still shows a rich red from its final paint job. We believe the caboose was purchased directly from the railroad after it was shut down and moved to the property, which is just a mile or so from the Rock Island's track near Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

(Left) The walkway was still in place on top of the caboose, which even allowed people to get around the cupola. Also, lots of leaves and pine needles had settled there. (Middle) If you enlarge this image, you can clearly see there had once been a Rock Island shield on the cupola, perhaps stolen or taken off when sold by the railroad. (Right) One of two crumbling desks on opposite corners inside the caboose, along with the original chairs which had cushions on metal frames bolted to the floor.

(Left) A piece of wood had been placed between the two benches in the cupola. I'm sure people who worked up there brought cushions to sit on because I'm sure those wooden benches had to have gotten uncomfortable after a short while. (Middle) Looking down from the cupola, the extensive deterioration is evident. The pole in middle ran along the entire length, directly under the roof, providing a quick handle for anyone needing something to grab in a hurry. (Right) One of two bunks or seats, each situated directly across from the desks. You can also see the big metal heater behind it. Because the hole in the roof was directly above it, years of rain dripping in had taken a toll on the heater, which was completely rusty.

(Left) Inside one of the closet doors was a checklist of necessary equipment for each run of the caboose. (Middle) The original toilet was still there, which would simply dump human waste onto the tracks. The window nearby was frosted to I guess give the employee taking care of his business a little privacy. (Right) A GM air pressure gauge for the breaks, located above one of the desks. From this, the conductor could tell if he had air pressure to his entire train and the ability to stop.

(Left) In the days leading up to us moving the caboose, all surrounding trees and nearby limbs had to be cut down. Here is the caboose on the morning we began, ready to be moved. (Center) Crews first removed the steps from each end of the caboose. (Right) They also used a torch to cut off the generator (which provided power) and other items that hung underneath the floorboard. This is because the body of the caboose needed to be able to sit flat on its floor..

(Left) A cameraman for KTHV-TV 11 gets up close for a tighter shot as workers position a steel beam under the caboose. (Middle) With beams in place on both ends of the caboose, they prepare to lift the body off of the wheels. (Right) Watching was former Rock Island employee J.P. Rook on the left, here talking with my dad Skip Hibblen. For decades, Rook worked in cabooses, including this one.

(Left) With beams in place, the crew signals the crane operator to begin lifting it up. (Center) I was amazed at how effortlessly the body came up from its trucks and seemed to float through the air. (Right) With some guidance from the crew, it was swung around to a waiting trailer.

(Left) Ropes were used to help guide the caboose body into position. (Middle) With incredible precision, the crew lowered it onto a low-boy trailer. This kind of trailer was needed since the caboose was tall enough that it could run into power lines. (Right) Using chains, the caboose body was secured onto the trailer for transport.

Next we had to remove the tracks, which we were going to need at my parent's house. We did not need the wooden ties, and already had a bed of new ties in place, ready for the track, then the caboose. (Left) Here I am pulling spikes out of the rails, which we would need, along with the plates that hold rails to the wooden ties. (Middle) The crew had to use the torch to cut the heads off of some spikes that did not want to come out of the wood. (Right) With the heavy steel rails free, the crane was used to help left them onto the trailer that would also carry the wheels.

(Left) With everything in place, the caravan began the 20 mile drive to my parent's. Note the worker standing on top of the caboose. Whenever they traveled through areas with power lines directly overhead, they had someone on top of the caboose to make sure it was not snagging any power lines. (Middle) Once they got out on to Highway 10, this wasn't a problem because the lines are mostly on the side of the highway, or much higher than they had to worry about. I drove ahead to catch the incredible site of the caboose on the scenic highway. (Right) Traveling a careful 35 to 45 miles an hour, the caravan did back up traffic.

(Left) It was stunning to see it heading west on Highway 10, here with Pinnacle Mountain in the background. The Rock Island's main line heading west toward Oklahoma went near this area and there is at least one great vintage black and white photo of a Rock Island passenger train with the familiar shape of Pinnacle Mountain in the background. (Center) After turning off the highway on Higginbotham Road, the lead truck of the caravan placed a pole on the front bumper at about the same height of the caboose on the truck to check for any potential snags from trees or power lines. (Right) The truck carrying the caboose just before turning into my parent's driveway.

(Left) Our first real jam came when they tried to turn the first curve of my parents rather sharp travel driveway. That sort of brought things to a grinding half until someone was a tractor used it to pull the trailer loose and the rest of the way up the mountain. (Center) The crew finishes walking up after the caboose was put in place. (Right) My parents had leveled the ground in advance and had new ties in place.

(Left) The first job at my parent's house was to get the rails evenly lined up, properly spaced and the spikes hammered in. This was really the only part of the process, both here and at the old site, where we did the physical labor. (Center) With the wheels having been lifted into position on the tracks, they wait as the caboose is lifted off the trailer. (Right) It took a few tries for the crane to get the caboose body properly positioned onto the trucks.

(Left) At times crew members had to practically climb underneath to get it lined up. As many times as they had to stop and trying lining it up again, I began having my doubts that they would be able to do it. (Center) View from begin the cab of the crane as its operator helps position the caboose. (Right) Finally, amazingly, the move was safely completed and the caboose here sits ready to begin renovations. I've got to hand it to Dick Moony Crane Service, it cost quite a bit, but their workers seemed prepared for anything and they got the job done. They did a good job.

Coming soon: A look at the work we've done over the years to preserve the relic of a long gone railroad.