Meet Tina Bales
Owner and Host of The H&R Caboose Roost
The H&R Caboose Roost began with a lifelong love of trains and a dream to preserve a small piece of railroad history.
My love for trains started when I was a child. My father was a train engineer for the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis. When we traveled to St. Louis from our home, we would often stop at the railroad crossing in Sauget, Illinois. As the train passed, I would wave and count the cars, hoping my dad might be in the engineer’s seat and see me waving.
Years later, when I learned that this 1958 Rock Island caboose — later used by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway — was for sale, I knew I had to find a way to bring it home and restore it. What began as a dream quickly became something much more meaningful.
The name H&R Caboose Roost honors two men connected to this story — my father, Harry, and Rick, the previous owner of the caboose. Rick had dreamed of living in the caboose one day, but sadly he passed away before that dream could come true. Restoring the caboose became a way to honor both of them while preserving a unique piece of railroad history for others to experience.
What began as a dream to restore a caboose became something more — a place where travelers can slow down, gather around the fire, and experience a small piece of railroad history.
My hope is that every guest who stays here leaves with memories of a truly unique and meaningful place.
Transforming The Caboose
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The transformation of the caboose into its current beautiful state required an extensive and meticulous restoration process that began in August 2024.The project started with steam cleaning the wheels, trucks, and undercarriage to remove decades of heavy grease in preparation for painting. The entire caboose was then sandblasted and given fresh paint to restore its classic appearance.
Next came the structural work. Windows were replaced, and the original steel interior walls, ceiling, insulation, and flooring were removed so the caboose could be completely rebuilt from the inside out.
In December, the caboose was moved to its current location — a complex operation involving a crane, two trucks with trailers, heavy equipment, and several experienced operators who completed the move seamlessly.
Work slowed during the winter months but resumed in early spring of 2025. New framing, insulation, electrical wiring, and plumbing were installed, followed by heating and cooling, shiplap walls, a steel ceiling, fixtures, and furnishings. Outside, the finishing touches included window trim, graphics, new steel steps, a firepit area, and fresh sod and grass.
Outside, the finishing touches included window trim, caboose graphics, new steel steps, a firepit area, and fresh sod and grass.
This restoration was both incredibly challenging and deeply rewarding. It required careful planning and the dedication of talented contractors who embraced the vision and devoted significant time, effort, and creativity to the project.
