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Since
the
last
update,
the
X201
has
had
a
complete
mechanical
overhaul
-
brakes
and
trucks.
As
you
may
or
may
not
realize,
all
(at
least
I
believe
this
to
be
true)
local
"yellow-belly"
cabooses
in
the
X200
series
were
equipped
with
older,
previously
used
friction
bearing
trucks,
since
they
normally
saw
only
yard
service
or
short-trip
road
service
on
local
trains.
The
friction
bearing
trucks
were
in
fair
shape
considering
their
age
(40's
era)
and
the
wheelsets
had
plenty
of
tread
and
flange
left.
All
the
journal
brass
was
in
place
and
in
good
condition
as
well.
However,
since
X201
is
going
to
be
returned
to
service,
I
chose
to
sacrifice
a
bit
of
originality
for
a
more
modern,
less
maintenance
set-up.
I
wanted
to
swap
the
friction
bearing
trucks
for
a
pair
of
Barber-Bettendorf
swing
action
trucks
by
Standard
Car
Truck
Co.
that
were
built
especially
for
cabooses.
This
is
the
truck
that
all
of
the
Southern's
modern
era
road
cabooses
received
and
used
until
their
retirement.
Southern
caboose
X458,
owned
by
and
stored
at
the
Heart
of
Dixie
Railroad
Museum,
was
the
candidate
for
the
swap.
The
Museum
graciously
agreed
to
let
me
have
the
roller
trucks
since
they
agreed
the
more
modern
set-up
would
better
suit
their
train
operations.
(I
truly
appreciate
the
generosity
of
the
Museum
and
plan
to
make
a
donation.)
The
roller
trucks
appeared
in
decent
shape.
Before
making
the
swap,
I
used
a
pair
of
old
car
jacks
to
lift
one
end
of
X458
and
remove
one
truck.
With
a
backhoe,
I
disassembled
the
first
truck
to
inspect
for
stress
cracks,
worn
wear
plates,
and
other
common
truck
problems.
I
found
that
many
of
the
wear
plates
on
the
truck
transom
were
loose
or
missing
due
to
broken
welds.
I
also
found
several
stress
cracks
in
corners
of
the
transom.
I
imagine
that
most
of
these
problems
were
caused
by
slack
action
at
the
end
of
the
train
and
the
bolster
slamming
against
the
transom
repeatedly.
With
the
help
of
my
father-in-law,
the
cracks
were
burned
out
using
a
torch
until
only
good
steel
remained,
and
then
filled
with
E70
weld.
Burning
out
the
stress
cracks
 The
Final
Wear
Plate
In
a
particular
note
of
interest,
an
examination
of
the
roller
trucks
from
X458
proved
that
one
of
the
trucks
had
seen
service
under
at
least
two
different
cars.
I
found
stencils
on
the
bolster
reading
X458.
Under
the
X458
stencil,
a
second
stencil
reading
X604
can
be
detected.
What
happened
to
caboose
X604?
Was
it
scrapped,
was
it
wrecked?
I
plan
to
re-stencil
both
trucks
to
read
X201
since
they
have
found
a
new
home.
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