Historic caboose gets a new home, restoration hope

A historic train caboose has made its final journey.

Caboose 715, one of a series belonging to Flaglers Florida East Coast Railway, left its base Oct. 1 at the Florida Pioneer Museum in Florida City for its new permanent home at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum near Zoo Miami.

The wooden caboose arrived at the Florida City museum in January 1967. It is believed to be the last of its kind of 60 previous existing Florida East Coast cabooses numbered 701-760.

We are happy to know that caboose 715 has a permanent home now, said Richard C. Beall, an engineer for Tri-Rail who took on the much-needed restoration project of the old girl three years ago.

But sending it to its permanent home at 12450 SW 152nd St., accomplished with a $6,500 anonymous donation, is one step toward saving the old caboose.

Caboose 715 is gradually deteriorating and the restoration phase requires $79,000 in funding, $8,000 which has already been donated, followed by the actual restoration.

In 2009, when Beall and his wife were dinning at the Capri restaurant across the street from the Florida Pioneer Museum, he went to visit the caboose.

There were large holes in the roof, and I could literally put my hand through her rotten siding on the south side, Beall said.

Bob Jensen, president of the Florida Pioneer Museum, said that community efforts have twice restored Caboose 715 to near original condition once after Hurricane Andrew only to have vandals destroy their work over time.

In fact, more damage came from vandals than hurricane Andrew, Jensen said.

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Historic caboose gets a new home, restoration hope