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Description
One of the Museum's "newer" acquisitions is Florida East Coast #715. Built by the New York Magor Car Manufacturing Company in 1925, this Wooden Caboose served the Florida East Coast for 41 years until it was phased out in 1966 in favor of the new End Of Train Device. The next year in 1967 it was donated to the Florida Pioneer Museum in Florida City. It was moved by Rail to Homestead where it was then trucked to the nearby Museum which it called home for the next 45 years. Unfortunately those years wouldn't be kind to the 715 as it became a regular victim of Vandalism and Homeless Folks began finding their way in. Its lack of cosmetic upkeep also did further damage on the Caboose externally. In 1992 the 715 was flipped onto its side by Hurricane Andrew. In the process, many of its original interior artifacts were destroyed

By the start of the 21st Century the 715 had fallen into such a sad state of disrepair that there was even talk of scrapping it all together. In 2012 its saving grace came in the form of Mr. Richard Beall, a retired Florida East Coast Engineer who actually helped move it to Homestead by Rail decades prior. He managed to strike a deal with City and Museum Officials to have the Caboose moved to the GCRM for safe keeping until it could be restored. On Monday October 1st 2012, four and a half decades after it was unloaded by truck, the 715 was once again lifted from its resting spot and trucked 18 miles north to the Museum. While it would continue to sit in disrepair, it was now at least safe. 8 Years later in January of 2020 restoration work finally commenced after the necessary funds were reached. Mr. Beall himself served as the project's Manager, Job Foreman and Carpenter. 18 Months later in July of 2021 the 715, now restored to its 1925 splendor, was moved on its own wheels for the first time in decades by Richard himself. While it was planned for the Caboose to be featured with the Museum's Regular Train Rides, the 715 remains as a static display piece due to left over damage on its break rod from Hurricane Andrew. Video from my visit: youtu.be/VisfxPXJtO4

Description
One of the Museum's "newer" acquisitions is Florida East Coast #715. Built by the New York Magor Car Manufacturing Company in 1925, this Wooden Caboose served the Florida East Coast for 41 years until it was phased out in 1966 in favor of the new End Of Train Device. The next year in 1967 it was donated to the Florida Pioneer Museum in Florida City. It was moved by Rail to Homestead where it was then trucked to the nearby Museum which it called home for the next 45 years. Unfortunately those years wouldn't be kind to the 715 as it became a regular victim of Vandalism and Homeless Folks began finding their way in. Its lack of cosmetic upkeep also did further damage on the Caboose externally. In 1992 the 715 was flipped onto its side by Hurricane Andrew. In the process, many of its original interior artifacts were destroyed

By the start of the 21st Century the 715 had fallen into such a sad state of disrepair that there was even talk of scrapping it all together. In 2012 its saving grace came in the form of Mr. Richard Beall, a retired Florida East Coast Engineer who actually helped move it to Homestead by Rail decades prior. He managed to strike a deal with City and Museum Officials to have the Caboose moved to the GCRM for safe keeping until it could be restored. On Monday October 1st 2012, four and a half decades after it was unloaded by truck, the 715 was once again lifted from its resting spot and trucked 18 miles north to the Museum. While it would continue to sit in disrepair, it was now at least safe. 8 Years later in January of 2020 restoration work finally commenced after the necessary funds were reached. Mr. Beall himself served as the project's Manager, Job Foreman and Carpenter. 18 Months later in July of 2021 the 715, now restored to its 1925 splendor, was moved on its own wheels for the first time in decades by Richard himself. While it was planned for the Caboose to be featured with the Museum's Regular Train Rides, the 715 remains as a static display piece due to left over damage on its break rod from Hurricane Andrew. Video from my visit: youtu.be/VisfxPXJtO4