Dan Waters' curiosity got the best of him after seeing the red, 56,000-pound sleeper caboose hoisted into the air and onto a flatbed trailer in Casey Jones Village Thursday morning.
All Aboard for the Little Caboose that Could!
Posted October 2nd, 2008: Today was an exciting day! The caboose on the Museum grounds was moved from one spot to another this morning to be placed on the railroad tracks behind Engine #382 and our 80 foot yellow railcar. See the complete story about the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum train station expansion on the post below.
Check out the wonderful pictures taken by Sun photographer Devin Wagner on the link. Thanks to the Jackson Sun newspaper and WBBJ TV for their coverage of the move. Many thanks to our contractor - Bruce Green Building Contractors- and Crane Services Incorporated for executing the safe move of the caboose. Enjoy the fantastic pictures........
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DQ&Dato=20081002&Kategori=PHOTOGALLERIES01&Lopenr=810020802&Ref=PH
Updated October 3rd: Here is an excerpt from the excellent article by Tyrone Tony Reed, Jr in the Jackson Sun newspaper:
Check out the wonderful pictures taken by Sun photographer Devin Wagner on the link. Thanks to the Jackson Sun newspaper and WBBJ TV for their coverage of the move. Many thanks to our contractor - Bruce Green Building Contractors- and Crane Services Incorporated for executing the safe move of the caboose. Enjoy the fantastic pictures........
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DQ&Dato=20081002&Kategori=PHOTOGALLERIES01&Lopenr=810020802&Ref=PH
Updated October 3rd: Here is an excerpt from the excellent article by Tyrone Tony Reed, Jr in the Jackson Sun newspaper:
"What's going on?" asked Waters, who said he had never been to the village before. "I'm sorry to interrupt you gentlemen, but I'm just very nosy."
Waters was later told that the caboose was being moved to a position behind Engine #382 and a yellow train car to make way for the expansion of the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum.
"I think that's great," said Waters, 62, of Nashville. "As a retired school teacher, I think putting a new museum here will be great for the young people and will show older folks we still care about their history."
The new museum will resemble an 1890s train station, the kind that the legendary engineer Casey Jones would have pulled into, according to Clark Shaw, co-owner of Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store.
"It's going to have a wonderful, large theatre, which will show films about Casey Jones and other people of the railroad," said Shaw, who is project coordinator. "We will also expand the exhibits."
Shaw said the construction project is about $815,000, but it will cost "$0 in local tax dollars.
Waters was later told that the caboose was being moved to a position behind Engine #382 and a yellow train car to make way for the expansion of the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum.
"I think that's great," said Waters, 62, of Nashville. "As a retired school teacher, I think putting a new museum here will be great for the young people and will show older folks we still care about their history."
The new museum will resemble an 1890s train station, the kind that the legendary engineer Casey Jones would have pulled into, according to Clark Shaw, co-owner of Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store.
"It's going to have a wonderful, large theatre, which will show films about Casey Jones and other people of the railroad," said Shaw, who is project coordinator. "We will also expand the exhibits."
Shaw said the construction project is about $815,000, but it will cost "$0 in local tax dollars.
"The city of Jackson received a federal grant that will cover 80 percent of the cost," Shaw said. "Casey Jones Village will cover 20 percent of the cost."
Shaw added, "It will be a $1 million project once its finished. It will be a wonderful addition to the Jackson community." After submitting a bid, Bruce Green Building Contractors Inc., of Martin, was chosen by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to build the new museum.
Arguably the most famous train engineer in American folklore, Jones and his family lived in Jackson, where he worked for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and later the Illinois Central Railroad.
Shaw added, "It will be a $1 million project once its finished. It will be a wonderful addition to the Jackson community." After submitting a bid, Bruce Green Building Contractors Inc., of Martin, was chosen by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to build the new museum.
Arguably the most famous train engineer in American folklore, Jones and his family lived in Jackson, where he worked for the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and later the Illinois Central Railroad.
Mike Youngblood, who is job superintendent for the construction company, said he is glad to be a part of the project because railroads are a part of his family's history.
"I'm from Jackson and my dad, Paul Youngblood, worked here as a claim agent for the Illinois Central Railroad until he died in 1975," he said. "I worked for the railroad until 1989."
Mike Youngblood added, "It's amazing to see how many people come here from other cities, states and countries to see Casey Jones' house and learn about his history."
The museum will continue to be under the directorship of Lawrence Taylor and his wife, Norma, who is the museum historian, Shaw said.
"It's going to be nice," Lawrence Taylor said. "It's great for the city and its great for the community. It's a win-win for everyone." Lawrence Taylor added, "We are very appreciative."
Before Waters left to head back to Nashville, he looked once more at the sleeper caboose and vowed that he would return to Casey Jones Village.
"I will definitely be coming back here," he said. "I have relatives from Michigan who are always looking for somewhere in Tennessee to go. Well, I know where we're coming next year."
"I'm from Jackson and my dad, Paul Youngblood, worked here as a claim agent for the Illinois Central Railroad until he died in 1975," he said. "I worked for the railroad until 1989."
Mike Youngblood added, "It's amazing to see how many people come here from other cities, states and countries to see Casey Jones' house and learn about his history."
The museum will continue to be under the directorship of Lawrence Taylor and his wife, Norma, who is the museum historian, Shaw said.
"It's going to be nice," Lawrence Taylor said. "It's great for the city and its great for the community. It's a win-win for everyone." Lawrence Taylor added, "We are very appreciative."
Before Waters left to head back to Nashville, he looked once more at the sleeper caboose and vowed that he would return to Casey Jones Village.
"I will definitely be coming back here," he said. "I have relatives from Michigan who are always looking for somewhere in Tennessee to go. Well, I know where we're coming next year."
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