A Small Town With Big Heart
Carlin Teens, Museum Volunteers, Railroad Fans & Professional Painters Restore Iconic Boxcar & Caboose
By Dianna Troyer
What could 18 seniors at Carlin High School do for their class project that would have a large and lasting impact on their community?
“We wanted to do something that would pop, really catch people’s attention, and last for years,” says Mariah Smith, a 2023 Carlin High School alumna.
Her foster mom, Kristina Urenda, suggested restoring the weathered and rusted boxcar and caboose at the football field.
During the early 1970s, Southern Pacific Railroad donated the surplus equipment to the school. Since then, the boxcar and caboose have been used as a concession stand and most recently to store athletic equipment for the CHS Railroaders.
“High school sports and our railroad heritage are both important to Carlin’s identity,” Mariah says.
Central Pacific Railroad established Carlin, the oldest town in Elko County, as a railroad division point in December 1868.
Mariah knows the joy of participating in school sports and other extracurricular activities, having played volleyball and softball. She was a cheerleader and member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and SkillsUSA.
“I brought up the idea of the restoration project to my classmates, and they were on board,” Mariah says. “We brainstormed, and I posted the project on Facebook.”
Ella Trujillo, treasurer of the Carlin Historical Society and Museum and a 2003 CHS grad saw Mariah’s post and contacted her.
“I met with Ella and her team at the museum to come up with a plan,” Mariah says. “The project was more than what we could take on as students, so we knew it was best to leave it up to the society to finish it.”
Mariah’s classmates Krista Housley and Natalie Brown helped make donation boxes for local businesses and posters proclaiming, “Hey Carlin, Let’s Do This.”
“We were grateful that people donated about $800,” Mariah says.
Ella applied for grants from Nevada Gold Mines and Wells Rural Electric Company’s Next Dollar Foundation. Teri Feasel, a historical society volunteer, and a 1972 CHS grad, coordinated with professional painters.
“Originally, the students and historical society members thought we might be able to paint them ourselves,” Teri says. “But we soon realized sandblasting was needed, and professionals should be hired.”
The boxcar was sandblasted and painted the school color of bright fire engine red in June 2023. In August 2024, the caboose restoration was completed.
“People are still talking about how great they look,” Teri says.
Generosity of Many
The gleaming boxcar and caboose “are a tangible testament to the generosity and compassion of the Carlin community and local business owners,” Ella says.
The cost of restoring the boxcar was estimated at a little more than $6,000. Along with the money students raised and the grants, society members and local residents donated.
With enough money raised, Teri contacted Roe Painting in Elko, describing the historical and cultural significance of the railroad equipment. Jon George, the company’s area manager, was happy to help.
“At Roe Painting, we’re always looking for ways to give back, especially when we can use our talents to help a community,” Jon says. “We’re a company that covers all of northern Nevada, not just Elko, so we look for projects in all the communities.”
After the boxcar was done, the society started raising money to renovate the caboose.
Meanwhile, the high school’s career and technical education adviser, Justin Munson, and his students removed and refurbished the caboose’s doors.
Jon was so impressed with how the boxcar turned out that he reached out to business partners in his painting network to brainstorm about restoring the caboose.
“For me, renovating the caboose was a gift to the community and high school,” Jon says. “With Jason Jardine’s help at Apex Blasting in Elko, I was able to put this together.”
Rodda Paint Co., based in Washington, donated paint. Roe Painting employees Andy Roe and Roy Stanley joined Jon in donating their labor and additional supplies.
As a finishing touch, they painted the years Carlin won the state football championship on the side of the caboose.
“The end result was definitely something my painter is very proud of and something the community can appreciate for many years to come,” Jon says.
Sentimental Icons
Teri says the project reminds her of the pride she and other Carlin residents have in the grounds and how much her family is vested in the school.
Her daughter graduated in 1991, her grandson graduated in 2012, and her granddaughter is a CHS sophomore.
“My husband, Steven, taught science classes to junior high and high school students here his entire teaching career,” Teri says. “In 2004, he started a tradition of shooting a cannon for the football games when we score touchdowns. After he passed away, my daughter and I have continued doing it.”
Whenever Mariah—now a barista in Grand Junction, Colorado—returns to Carlin to visit family and friends, she is reminded of what a community can accomplish.
“It’s a special small town whose residents have big hearts,” Mariah says. “That project shows what a group of people can accomplish. I’m so happy to see it done.”
Ella is coordinating the final details of the project.
“A sign will be mounted on the caboose to recognize the class of 2023 for taking the initiative to start the project and to acknowledge the people and businesses that contributed,” she says.
