Featured CollectionCabooses
Gone but Never Forgotten
A caboose was a crewed North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provided shelter for crew at the end of a train, who were formerly required in switching and shunting, keeping a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles.
early everyone is familiar with the railroad caboose. Formally, it's the punctuation mark that concludes every freight train — a mobile office for the crew, a lookout post. It is a van on the Canadian National, a cabin car on the Pennsylvania, a buggy on the Boston & Maine; but by whatever name, it remains symbolic of the railroad scene. The little red frame shanty that trailed faithfully after every string of freight cars has undergone many changes in a hundred years. The box-like shelter which train crews built to shield their cooking fires on spare flat cars in the mid-1800s, the converted boxcars with sliding doors introduced around the turn of the century, the cupola-topped wooden crummy popular before World War II, all have given way to more modern and better equipped vehicles. Today's caboose with its sleek bay windows of shatterproof glass, its automatic oil heaters, electric lights, refrigerators, and radio-telephones between locomotive and wayside station reflect the technological advances being made by North American railroads. The caboose has become merely a rolling office, efficient and functional, rather than the "home away from home" that it used to be.
William F. Knapke / The Railroad Caboose
Collection
All caboose images in this collection are by John or Ralph Hawkins, unless otherwise noted.
Alabama Central #1
Jasper, Al / Sep 1960 / JCH
Ann Arbor #231
Zanesville, Oh / Feb 2016 / RWH
Ashtabula, Carson & Jefferson #425
Jefferson, Oh / May 2009 / RWH
Aberdeen, Carolina & Western #1
Star, NC / 1999 / RWH
Ashley, Drew & Northern #10
Monticello, Ar / 1942 / collection
Ashley, Drew & Northern #17
Monroe, La / Sep 1993 / JCH
Arkansas & Louisiana Missouri #485
Monroe, La / Jul 1989 / RWH
Arkansas & Missouri #170
Springdale, Ar / Aug 1992 / RWH
Aberdeen & Rockfish #303
Aberdeen, NC / 1999 / RWH
Atlanta & Saint Andrews Bay #1
Panama City, Fl / collection
Baltimore & Ohio #C2550
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Baltimore & Ohio #C2553
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Baltimore & Ohio #C3014
Belington, WV / Jul 2011 / RWH
Baltimore & Ohio #C3015
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Baltimore & Ohio #C3898
Cass, WV / Jun 2013 / RWH
Bay Line #11
Panama City , Fl / 1990 / RWH
Bay Line #12
Panama City, Fl / Jun 1983 / collection
Bessemer & Lake Erie #1825
Conneaut, Oh / May 2009 / RWH
Bessemer & Lake Erie #1985
Greenville, Pa / May 2009 / RWH
Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern #12
Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH
Burlington Northern #10574
Saint Louis, Mo / 1980s / JCH
Burlington Northern #20947
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Cape Fear Railways #20887
Fort Bragg, NC / 1990s / RWH
Cass Scenic #51
Cass, WV / Jun 2013 / RWH
Cass Scenic #311
Cass, WV / Jun 2013 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #51
Columbus, Ms / 1985 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #51
Columbus, Ms / Jul 1989 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #500
Columbus, Ms / Jan 1967 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #503
Columbus, Ms / Oct 1971 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #506
Columbus, Ms / Feb 1970
Columbus & Greenville #508
Greenville, Ms / Mar 1967 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #510
Greenville, Ms / 1952 / collection
Columbus & Greenville #516
Greenwood, Ms / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #519
Columbus, Ms / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #520
Greenville, Ms / 1972 / JCH
Chesapeake & Ohio #90704
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Chesapeake & Ohio #903103
Jonesborough, Tn / Nov 2011 / RWH
Conrail #18732
RWH
CSXT #900025
Neville Island, Pa / Aug 2009 / RWH
Crown Zellerbach #1
Bogalusa, La / Sep 1988 / RWH
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton #118
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Elk River Coal & Lumber #1
Cass, WV / Jun 2013 / RWH
Fernwood, Columbia & Gulf #14
Fernwood, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
Florida East Coast #803
Jacksonville, Fl / Sep 1990 / collection
Florida East Coast #806
Jacksonville, Fl / Dec 1990 / collection
Georgia #2846
Camak, Ga / Apr 1969 / collection
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2639
Laurel, Ms / Dec 1971 / JCH
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2639
Laurel, Ms / Oct 1972 / JCH
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2825
Tuscaloosa, Al / Jul 1969 / collection
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2878
Huntsville, Al / 1975 / JCH
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2890
Columbus, Ms / Jul 1972 / JCH
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #2892
Meridian, Ms / Oct 1991 / JCH
Gulf & Mississippi #1
Tuscaloosa, Al / Mar 1988 / collection
Hartwell #4
Hartwell, Ga / April 1985 / collection
Hocking Valley Scenic #C2553
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Illinois Central #9559
Gretna, La / Feb 2001 / JCH
Illinois Central Gulf #199452
Gloster, Ms / Nov 1986 / JCH
Illinois Central Gulf #199458
Union, Il / Sep 2009 / RWH
Illinois Central Gulf #199504
Jackson, Ms / Aug 1986 / JCH
Illinois Central Gulf #199547
Jackson, Ms / Jan 1987 / RWH
Louisville & Nashville #1043
Huntsville, Al / Sep 1970 / JCH
Louisville & Nashville #1048
Huntsville, Al / Oct 1974 / JCH
Louisville & Nashville #6108
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Louisville & Nashville #6114
Etowah, Tn / Aug 1979 / collection
Louisville & Nashville #6210
Lithonia, Ga / Mar 1987 / collection
Louisville & Nashville #6433
New Orleans, La / 1980s / RWH
Louisville & Nashville
Carrollton, Ky / Jul 1973 / JCH
Louisville & Nashville
New Haven, Ky / Feb 2012 / RWH
Louisiana Steam Train Association #1
New Orleans, La / Dec 2005 / Louis Saillard
Louisiana & North West #215
Gibsland, La / Aug 1989 / RWH
Louisiana & North West #216
Gibsland, La / Jan 1986 / collection
Meridian & Bigbee #206
Meridian, Ms / Jan 1986 / collection
Meridian & Bigbee #207
Meridian, Ms / May 1982 / collection
Moscow, Camden & San Augustine #1
Moscow, Tx / Aug 1992 / RWH
Mississippian #630
Amory, Ms / May 1960 / JCH
Mississippian #939
Amory, Ms / Apr 1970 / JCH
Mississippi Central #B13
Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH
Mississippi Central #B18
Hattiesburg, Ms / Sep 1959 / JCH
MidSouth #1605
Meridian, Ms / Jan 1989 / RWH
Mississippi & Skuna Valley #1
Bruce, Ms / Dec 1970 / JCH
Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis #41
Chattanooga, Tn / Aug 1986 / JCH
New Castle Industrial #14
New Castle, Pa / Sep 2015 / RWH
Norfolk Southern #387
Spencer, NC / Aug 1989 / JCH
Norfolk Southern #555039
Bristol, Va / Jul 2011 / RWH
Norfolk Southern #555644
Bristol, Va / Jul 2011 / RWH
Norfolk & Western #555091
Abingdon, Va / Nov 2011 / RWH
Norfolk & Western #557758
Damascus, Va / Nov 2011 / RWH
Norfolk & Western #562821
Spencer, NC / Aug 1989 / JCH
Ohio Central #556
Coshocton, Oh / Feb 2016 / RWH
Olin Mathieson Chemical #1
Saltville, Va / Sep 1960 / JCH
Penn Central #18216
New Castle, Pa / Aug 2009 / RWH
Penn Central #24014
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Pennsylvania #478034
New Castle, Pa / Aug 2009 / RWH
Richmond, Fred. & Potomac #824
Midlothian, Va / Dec 2011 / RWH
Rio Grande Southern #400
Ridgway, Co / Jun 1959 / JCH
Rock Island
New Orleans, La / May 1987 / JCH
Seaboard Coast Line #1022
Nelsonville, Oh / Jun 2012 / RWH
Seaboard System #21006
Jacksonville, Fl / Apr 1987 / JCH
Sumter & Choctow #1000
York, Al / Jan 1986 / collection
St Louis - San Francisco #1241
Amory, Ms / Jun 1970 / collection
Soo Line #29
New Haven, Ky / Deb 2012 / RWH
Southern Railway #X90
Huntsville, Al / Nov 1971 / JCH
Southern Railway #X217
Marion, NC / Feb 1981 / collection
Southern Railway #X3087
Huntsville, Al / May 1999 / JCH
Southern Railway #X394
Bluff City, Tn / Nov 2011 / RWH
Southern Railway #X528
Knoxville, Tn / Nov 1990 / collection
Southern Railway #X558
Monroe, Va / Jun 1985 / collection
Southern Railway #X788
Norcross, Ga / May 1987 / collection
Southern Railway #X2883
Huntsville, Al / Dec 1970 / JCH
Southern Railway #X642
Spencer, NC / May 2001 / JCH
Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes
Portland, Me / Jul 2006 / RWH
Union Pacific #25437
Greenville, Pa / May 2009 / RWH
Union Pacific #25817
Addis, La / Jan 2009 / RWH
Virginian #321
Roanoke, Va / 2000s / RWH
Western Railway of Alabama #128
Montgomery, Al / Oct 1971 / collection
Western Railway of Alabama #150
Montgomery, Al / Oct 1971 / collection
Western Railway of Alabama #154
Montgomery, Al / Feb 1972 / collection
Wheeling & Lake Erie #205
Greenville, Pa / May 2009 / RWH
Western New York & Pennsylvania #300
Meadville, Pa / Jan 2012 / RWH
Western New York & Pennsylvania #301
Olean, NY / Dec 2012 / RWH
Winston-Salem Southbound #670
Winston-Salem, NC / 1990s / RWH
Lagniappe
Do you have a favorite caboose?
I think my favorite might just be Illinois Central Gulf #199452. Granted, by the time my father took this photo in the fall of 1986, she was not much to look at. Nor was she unique. The Illinois Central Gulf of my childhood ran dozens of these long, steel, orange beasts up and down their Main Line of Mid-America -- at least until the Feds told them they no longer needed them on the rear. The 199000 series cabins were unusual with their extra large porches and their extra tall wide-vision cupolas. 199452 is my favorite caboose because it is the one in which I have racked up the most shortline miles. By the time this photo was taken, it was off the ICG roster and in the care of shortline sawdust hauler Gloster Southern. In '86 the line hosted our NRHS chapter for a down and back excursion on their newly acquired pike, and 199452 brought up the rear of our short but official train. I rode on the end of 199452 for most of one leg of the trip. At that age, the miles seemed to roll on forever. It was on the back platform where I lost my favorite railroad hat. It was also during that trip and in that spot that I developed my oldest and best railfan maxim: If you can't ride up front in the cab, then the next best place to be is on the rear.
And that's why ICG #199452 is my favorite caboose. You?
Roanoke, Va / 2000 / RWH
Bastrop, La / Nov 1992 / JCH
Panama City, FL / 1990
Chattanooga, Tn / Aug 1986
New Orleans, La / 1986
Cass, WV / Jun 2013 / RWH
Links / Sources
- Wikipedia article for the American Caboose
- American Railway Caboose Historical Educational Society
- North American Rails caboose page