Excursion Car 5

This 36-inch gauge car began its working life circa 1904 as West Side Lumber Company log flatcar #46, serving the extensive logging operations in Tuolumne, California. In 1919, it was substantially rebuilt in the WSLCo shops as caboose #5.

The car's post-WSLCo history reflects the complex secondary market for narrow gauge equipment. In 1961, it transferred to the Antelope & Western Railroad, a private railroad in Antelope, California. It subsequently moved to the Camino Cable & Northern Railroad, a tourist operation in Camino, California. In 1974, the car passed to a private owner in Santa Rosa, California, and was later stored on a property in Auburn, California from 19*X* to 198*X*.

A significant transformation occurred when the car was acquired by the Northern Queen Motel in Nevada City, California. Using the original car frame and trucks, it was completely rebuilt as an excursion car for tourist service, preserving the authentic mechanical components while creating a red-and-white clad passenger-carrying configuration. In 2017, the car was acquired by a private owner and subsequently leased to SPCRR from 2017 through 2025.

SPCRR purchased the car outright in February 2025. The car retains the number 5 in commemoration of its service as West Side Lumber Company caboose #5, honoring its authentic logging railroad heritage while serving in its current excursion car configuration.

* Unknown date information, closest confident date range used. 
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