Jamestown – The City Council meeting of October 2nd had a discussion on the Midland Continental Caboose located at the Frontier Village. Councilman Dan Buchanan was approached by a citizen to save the caboose. It was discussed in a past meeting to dispose of the caboose. The caboose was closed off to the public for the last 4 years, due to needing repairs. The Frontier Village has another Caboose (Northern Pacific Railroad) open for display next to Midland Continental Train Station.

NP Caboose

It was brought up in the discuss that the Midland Continental caboose was not originally built for the Midland Continental Rail line, but purchased from New Haven Railroad. The Civic Center & Promotion Committee approved to have the caboose disposed of.

Emily Bivens of Jamestown Tourism, informed the council that to restore the caboose was not in their budget. Councilman David Schloegel stated It was last known to cost $20,000 – $30,000 to restore the caboose. The city of Jamestown would have to invest twice as much in today’s money.

It was voted on by the council to hold off on disposing of the Midland Continental caboose till the spring of 2024 and see what could be done with it.