"WHAT OUR GUESTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT STAYING IN OUR CABOOSE"

We have been lucky enough to have GREAT guests over the years. Here is a collection of some of their thoughts. It includes input from honeymooners, families and singles, railroad lovers, train watchers, fishermen and naturalists. They express what it's like better than we ever could.

Keeping railroad history alive in any small town is very expensive & hard work

THANKS

DEAR  WALT,
     SORRY  IT  TOOK  SO  LONG  TO  ANSWER  YOUR  NOTE.  NO  EXCUSE,  OTHER  THAN  I  AM  THE  #1  PROCRASTINATOR  IN  THE  WORLD.  STAYING  IN  THE  CABOOSE  WAS  THE  NEATEST  VACATION  I  HAVE  EVER  HAD.  I  WOKE  UP  SEVERAL  TIMES  DURING  THE  NIGHT,  LOOKED  AT  THE  KNOTTY-PINE  CEILING,  AND  THOUGHT,  "I  CAN'T  BELIEVE  I'M  SLEEPING  IN  A  REAL  CABOOSE!"  I  TOOK  ALL  MY  SCHOOLWORK  WITH  ME,  THINKING  MAYBE  I  COULD  GET  SOME  OF  IT  DONE.  (I  TRIED  WORKING  AT  HOME,  BUT  HAD  ONE,  HUGE  MENTAL  BLOCK.)  SITTING  AT  YOUR  PICNIC  TABLE,  THAT  BEAUTIFUL  SUNDAY,  MADE  MY  MIND  CLICK!  SINCE  YOU  ARE  SO  CLOSE,  JOE  AND  I  WILL  DEFINITELY  BE  BACK.  WE  WOULD  TRULY  RECOMMEND  YOUR  STATION  TO  ANYONE.  WE  TOLD  ALL  OUR  FRIENDS  ABOUT  OUR  UNIQUE  ADVENTURE!  MAYBE  NEXT  SUMMER,  WE  COULD  COME  FOR  A  WHOLE  WEEK.  MY  ONLY  REGRET  WAS  WHEN  I  GOT  MY  SLIDES  DEVELOPED,  I  DID  NOT  HAVE  ONE  WITH  YOU.  (I  HAD  DAVE,  NORMAN,  AND  YOU-NAME-IT,  BUT  NOT  YOU.  THAT  GIVES  ME  AN  EXCUSE  TO  RETURN.  THANKS  FOR  ONE  S-U-P-E-R  WEEK-END.  AS  THE  YOUNGER  GENERATION  WOULD  SAY,  "IT  WAS  TOTALLY  AWESOME!"

                                                      UNTIL  NEXT  SUMMER,
                                                      BONNIE  LONG  &  JOE  BORTOT

Hi Walt, I tried to drop you a note last week and had a problem in sending it. I did post positive feedback for you last week. We had an enjoyable time at your place and want to thank you for the hospitality you provided us. The caboose stayed high and dry the entire raining night. The stop over at your place added to the pleasure we had during too short and busy vacation. Unfortunately we were not able to stay longer and did not have the opportunity to personally thank you. Perhaps on another occasion while passing through Pennsylvania, we'll have a chance to spent another night or two. Look for us to bid again on your E-bay site. Thanks again, Phil and Kathy Maroon.

I just wanted to thank you for our stay, We had a wonderful time, especially the Grandkids. We took some very memorable photos. The Grandkids loved the fact that we were not in a stuffy hotel room. We had a campfire & toasted marshmallows. On the way home, we went fishing. We stopped under a small one lane bridge to fish after stopping at a campground to buy bait. They didn't catch anything, but still had a great time.  Thanks again, and we will give your brochure to anyone that we know will be going to Knoebles.  Susan Asimos  7-11 to 7-13

Water, thanks again for a great place to stay.  We had a blast and look forward to seeing you next year.        -Marc. 

Hello

I want to thank you, for the over night stay in the caboose. Its some thing I wanted to do for a while You have a great park you are gathering. Your video was very interesting, we both watch it to the end. now don't want a caboose of my own. A friend or mine is captain on the Delta Queen .We went to school together, played ball, and bummed around.

Gabe Chingery. Thanks Again.

Bob Evans

My wife and I had a great time staying in one of your caboose's, the movies were also great. with a store around the corner we even had the snacks we wanted to watch the movies with. I had taken a lot of pictures and passed them around at work and commented on what a great place to spent a weekend at. About the only thing you do need is an ice machine in the bath house. Will call again some day I want to bring my Son & his wife there. And yes you may use this on your web page.

Thanks Gerry Wolfe

Dear Sir,

Thank you for the work you are doing preserving the Columbia County railroad heritage. I have been to the station in Catawissa with my girlfriend. She wanted me to see all the cabooses her mom had told her about. I live in NC, and only have been up there once. I must say that the Susquehanna river is about the most beautiful river I have ever seen. I live on the ocean here in the Carolinas, and have never seen water so pure and clean. She lives in Bloomsburg, and in September I will be going up there to get her and bring her down with me, as she is going to find a apartment and live down here. One of the things I find so special about the area is the way the railroad and land around it seems to blend in together, creating a scene out of the earlier part of the century. I love the entire area with the hills and river, and the railroad. It is pretty interesting to learn about the history of the line.

Taylor

First I would like to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at you station, even with the train at 3:00 a.m.. My grandchildren were thrilled to no end. By any chance did you find a set of keys in the blue caboose = the one with the bathroom in the caboose, my daughter's husband lost her keys to her office and it has caused quite a bit of trouble for her.

     Greetings from the MacDougall family.  We stayed at one of your cabooses last year, while on a visit to Knoebels.  I believe we stayed on Monday, July 16th.   We would like to visit the area and again stay in one of your cabooses (hopefully the same one, which is why I referenced the date) if one is available.  We have hopes for maybe July 1st(our wedding anniversary) but we need to keep an eye on the weather. 

Sincerely,    Bill MacDougall

Hi Walt, Dave Gardner here, my wife and I were there in may. We had a great time and will be back next may . Where did you acquire the steam and is it operable, boiler tubes ok? I hope it will be a short overhaul if big work is required. I like the newly done Conrail caboose it wasn't quite done when you showed it to us in May.

Wont keep you just wanted to say Hello

Dave Gardner

I'm not a seasoned 'train buff' but my wife and I own an old LVRR  Depot and I've had a burning desire to also own a caboose to place near our depot primarily to serve as a 'guest cottage'. Since that is wishful thinking for a host of reasons our trip to Catawissa back in July 2000, allowed me the opportunity to see first hand what is possible. Walt Gosciminski has had the forsight to preserve an important part of Americana in a most unique way with his complex filled with railroad collectables and rolling stock where cabooses have been turned into neat and unusual 'guest cottages'. Each caboose has its' own identity complete with an outdoor area with picnic table and grille. My wife, who had not shared my vision, came away with a positive opinion on what could be done with a caboose. For a neat, pleasant and unusual experience take it all in by reserving a caboose at Walt's 'Catawissa Railroad' in Catawissa, PA."

Tom Gunderson

Aurora, NY

My husband and I stayed last year in your new haven caboose and had a great time.  We would like to come again.  I see that you have finished the 20137 and since my friends are interested in going to, we would like to know the availability of that caboose darning the month of September.  We would be staying a Friday, Saturday, Sunday night combination.  Thanks for your time and really hope we can get back out there!

Carrie & Rob Mason

Sincerely,

Lee Bunting & Family

Walter,

My kids were thrilled to stay in a real caboose so that was a huge success. It was interesting to see what you are trying to accomplish with your cabooses and your railroad siding and station. Your effort have been huge so far and the video helped us appreciate the effort necessary to accomplish moving a caboose. Being an architect I can envision what your enterprise will one day become, although it is very much a work-in-progress. I have to say, however, I was disappointed with the cabooses as places to stay overnight, especially the very uncomfortable beds. The cold shower was a real shocker as was the outdoor "bathroom." From you web description it sounded more completed and less rustic. However, no regrets! I and my family were willing to "rough it" for one night for the thrill of actually staying in a caboose. Well worth any inconvenience. I will be interested in seeing your caboose hotel as it matures.

Steve Temple

Sure you can use my statements on your website as long as you use the whole statement. I think they were fair statements in total.

Steve

Thanks for being honest. We have over forty different beds I’ll see what I can do. The cold water was my fault, I had a lady say it was to hot the day before. I must have turned it down a little to low. You’re the first to say anything about the beds? Were they too hard or soft? 
I know it’s hard for me to find the right mattress for myself. 

Thanks, Walt (Owner)

We from Philadelphia, Pa. And our first time never in a caboose. Now I know what the real railroad workers felt when they too were in those caboose. And I can't believe that those railroad workers took a pay to work in them. :-)
And we sure can't wait till I go back again to try out another kind of caboose at Catawissa Railroad Company. Bob & Gerry Laskey

Walt,

We has a great time staying in the (yellow and green) Reading Caboose. As a railfan who is into the Reading and Lehigh Valley it was very cool to stay in authentic equipment parked right next to each other. How many places will you find that? When I got home I checked the HO scale cabooses on my layout to see if any matched those in your collection and sitting on a siding was the red Reading 92837! I also found a color picture of a Reading Ramble FP7 coming right by your station in the late 50's early 60's.

Your vision and investment has created not only a fun place to visit but has also preserved an important part of regional history that has been otherwise forgotten.

You mentioned that you owned other sections of the right of way and a tunnel. A great attraction that would enhance the caboose experience would be to have the ability to go out on the old road bed for either hiking or biking. The more mileage the better. After a good day hiking on an old road bed to see the sights it would be cool to come back and stay in a caboose to complete the experience.

Is the Mainville fill still there and/or accessible? I saw an old video of the fill and the old bridge abutments. Stuff like that would be a great attraction as well. Your operation has a lot of potential in this regard and I hope it is developed to it fullest. Feel free to use any of this on your website. Thanks.

John Ehresman