Union Pacific 25198
Last Update:  April 10, 2013
In early March, 2009, a new caboose arrived on the OPR.  This is Chris McLarney's caboose, UP 25198.   Chris is famous as
the person who helped begin the restoration of the SP&S 700 and formed the PRPA, which now oversees the maintenance
and operation of that steam engine.   Some of Chris's history with the SP&S 700 can be found here.   

Chris and the OPR go back to at least the 1980s when Dick Samuels used his newly acquired PTC No. 100 to pull the SP&S
700 from Oaks Park to begin its restoration.

UP 25198 is a class CA-4 caboose of the Union Pacific Railroad, built in November 1944, it was the 2nd to last CA-4 class
caboose built for the UP.   It was retired from the UP on July 11, 1985.  More information can be found on this page.   

The caboose has been restored mechanically by Chris McLarney and is in excellent condition.   It has recently under a
complete exterior paint job, including correct markings for a UP caboose in service in the 1970s.   It is currently stored, ready
for service, near the OPR's shops and has been used in several runs on the East Portland Branch.
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This is one of the few historical pictures we have of the 25198 when it was in service with the Union Pacific.
Photo taken by Chris McLarney in 1971.
On May 2, 2009, the 25198 was pulled behind a passenger train on the OPR for the first time.  This event, organized by a friend of Chris
McLarney's, Susan Boos, was in honor of Chris's birthday and hosted a number of friends from Chris's 1973 8th grade class of Laurelhurst
Elementery School.
Recently, while being moved in a mainline railroad yard, the 25198 sustained damage to both couplers and draft gear.  It's not known exactly what
happened, but repairs had to be made before the 25198 could be moved again on the railroad.
The consist for the caboose special.   The yellow caboose is Chris's caboose.   Check out our roster page in the next few days for a write up and more pictures of this
caboose.
LIterally a few minutes after passing Oaks Park Station southbound, a freak thunderstorm came up an downed a tree just north of Oaks Park.  The tree took out a power
pole and power lines and everything fell across both the spring water trail and the OPR tracks.  The fire department was called and the trail and railroad were closed
until repairs could made.
Susan Boos photos of the Chris McLarney caboose ride and birthday event!
Soon after arriving on the OPR, the caboose was set out on the McBrod Spur, south of the Milwuakie shops.  These are some of the first photos of the 25198 on the OPR,
taken in March,  2009.
Repairs being made while the 25198 was stored at the Mt. Hood Railroad  with the help of Bruce Moore (pictured) of Standard Rail Service.
On June 18, 2009, the OPR hosted a tour from the N scale national modelers convention and part of the display was Chris McLarney's caboose.
Interior pictures of the 25198.   Chris has spent many hours restoring this caboose to as close to original condition as possible.  And that
includes a lot of very original union pacific equipment.   This is something you don't see on a lot of cabooses.  Often times, the cabooses are
stripped or modified for comfort or whatever it's new use is going to be once surplused.  But this is about as close as you can get to what a
conductor saw and used when he rode the 25198 on the Union Pacific.
Pictures from August 2009 showing Chris's painting project progress.    In these pictures, most of the caboose has been repainted and some
lettering applied.  Full Union Pacific lettering and number will soon follow.   photos 8-09
New pictures show some additional detail work to the exterior paint by Chris.   Photos 9-09
Chris McLarney's Union Pacific Caboose 25198
Chris McLarney
owner and restorer of this beautiful example of a historically correct Union Pacific Caboose
The caboose, freshly repainted in correct UP colors and markings being used on a freight run on the OPR East Portland Branch in October, 2009.
Pictures courtesy of Chris McLarney
Historical & Restoration Related Photos
Operational Photos on the OPR
On October 31, 2009, the caboose was pulled as part of a double header photo op, for the OPR website.
Paint is effectively completed and the caboose looks beautiful!   Photos 10-09
On July 10, 2010, the OPR brought out Chris's caboose once again for a private run with Chris's brother Kelly, nephew miles, along with Amtrak
Road Foreman Pete Cozzi and his son Grant.   Engine was the historical No. 100, also being brought out to charge the batteries.
Photos courtesy of Chris McLarney