1908 - Caboose on the Jump

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Roanoke Times - February 8, 1908

Caboose on the Jump

   Much excitement was created in the neighborhood of the passenger 
station of the Norfolk & Western Railroad yesterday afternoon by the 
obstreperous conduct of a caboose. While some shifting was being done 
some distance above the Jefferson street crossing, a caboose took it 
into its head to start upon a voyage of its own, and it forthwith 
began rolling at lively rate of speed in the direction of Norfolk. As 
it proceeded, it rapidly gathered headway, and when it passed 
Jefferson street, it was making about twenty-five miles an hour. Of 
course it had the advantage of a down grade, and this enabled it to 
laugh at such things as locomotives and pinch bars.
   When the caboose was within a hundred yards or so of Jefferson 
street, it ran into a hand car that was enjoying a little leisure and 
sunning itself with great content. The hand car was naturally 
surprised at being thus rudely disturbed. And it was still more 
surprised when the caboose refused to run over it, but shoved it 
along the track as if it had been a bundle of straw.
   Near the crossing, an employe of the Norfolk & Western managed, at 
the risk of breaking his neck, to jump on the runaway, but when he 
tried to apply the brakes, he found that he could not do so, and 
seeing that it was useless for him to remain on the car, he jumped to 
the ground.
   The caboose fortunately met with no serious encounters and with 
absolute disregard to precedent, railroad regulations, and the 
dignity of things in general, continued its journey gaily. And it did 
not consent to stop until it was a half mile below the passenger 
station, where it came in contact with an up grade, that in railroad 
Thursday afternoon by the its independence.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link