Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX Safety caboose on final mainline journey

As many railfans think about, I always thought it'd be cool to have your own caboose.  I've ridden many and have spent a lot of time on them at my local museum in Connersville, IN.  I became aware of one available and still rail-worthy  -  A difficult task in 2019.   After a cursory inspection as well as discussing shipping options with CSX, I realized it was very do-able to acquire and move a caboose from its long-time home in Hamlet, NC to Indiana - some 600-700 miles away.    I set the process in motion and the caboose left Hamlet roughly a week ago.  I wanted to document the move and announced here and elsewhere the details of the move hoping some fellow railfans would see it and take some photos. It left Hamlet in the early morning and traveled all the way to Atlanta in daylight.  No photos surfaced.  From Atlanta, GA to Terre Haute, IN, it moved under darkness over several days and no photos surfaced.  I figured I was going to have to take matters into my own hands and intercept it at Terre Haute.  The drive there was 3+ hours in a winter storm warning but was a relatively easy drive.  The caboose passed through Terre Haute about 5am and likely would have reached Avon yard in Indianapolis under darkness had fate not stepped in.  The train tripped a defect detector and got hung up for hours east of Terre Haute.  As daylight broke, I went looking for it after having staked out a decent night time location.  What followed was a great day of chasing in fresh snow and I was able to get a number of photos between Greencastle, IN and Avon Yard.  

Here are a few of those photos.

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6.  How do you rotate this?

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Nice job and congratulations on the caboose!  

7.  Dead train being overtaken 
8.  Entering Avon Yard
9.  Passing Glendale Depot in Cincinnati after missing its drop in Connersville.  

 

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 It appears to be in good shape. I also noticed the modified steps (additional stairs) and end handrails. I'm sure you and the museum will be happy with your purchase!

Makes the rear of the train look like it should 

Looks like a great place to have some Rule G evenings.  Nice you were able to get this fine piece of equipment to save for future generations.  Those wide-vision cabooses were my favorites growing up on the SCL.  I'm sure I saw that one many times over the years.
 

It's final mainline voyage is only just beginning.  It's on the rear of CSX train W874-14 and is currently in central Kentucky on its way to Atlanta and Wilmington, NC.  AEI scan confirmed at Ryland Heights, Kentucky for CSXT 21195 at 7:31pm today (January 15).

K8DTI Wrote:
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> It's final mainline voyage is only just
> beginning.  It's on the rear of CSX train W874-14
> and is currently in central Kentucky on its way to
> Atlanta and Wilmington, NC.  AEI scan confirmed
> at Ryland Heights, Kentucky for CSXT 21195 at
> 7:31pm today (January 15).

What?  After all this...  Is EHH pulling strings from you know where?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/19 18:15 by boejoe.

Thanks for posting these. What a treat it was to see your photos.
Bob

Nice going.  I'm impressed with the qaualty of the paint.  I'm surprised CSX did not paint out CSX markings.

Nice photos and chase coverage.  Sure looks good on the back of a train.
Brian Stevens

Even if it's not a "Little red caboose," it sure is a nice looking one.  Hope you enjoy it.

John

Very nice!

SantaFeRuss

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Do it before you post it.


Ron

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Coal  or stove ,  Where are you going to put it,  the museum?

Cool move. About how much did it cost if you don't mind sharing?

you can usually get them under 10k, they hopefully gave him a deal for the museum display if that is correct

P, are you out there chasing it trying to get it set off?!?  Hate to say it, but this happens so much at all the Class 1s with any kind of non-routine shipment.

K8DTI Wrote:
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> It's final mainline voyage is only just
> beginning.  It's on the rear of CSX train W874-14
> and is currently in central Kentucky on its way to
> Atlanta and Wilmington, NC.  AEI scan confirmed
> at Ryland Heights, Kentucky for CSXT 21195 at
> 7:31pm today (January 15).

Thanks for all the comments. I was able to get it set out in Corbin. Supposedly will come back north soon. If I hadn't intervened, it likely would have ridden all the way back to Hamlet and Wilmington! Yikes.

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