The recent "Risen from the ashes..." thread on Monon caboose #C-302 at the Monon Connection Museum begs mention of the other similar Monon caboose that's there; number C-283. Its story is a bit different, but interesting in itself.

The Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society has a policy of preserving Monon equipment. Some of these pieces are at various railroad museums throughout the Midwest. For some time, the Society was looking for a wood Monon caboose and eventually found one (the C-283) that was privately owned and used as a "bath house" on the owners property. A deal was struck whereas MRHTS found another caboose and a trade was consummated. The C-283 was then moved to Linden, Indiana next to the restored "L-shaped" Monon/NKP junction depot there and the Society restored the cabooses exterior. Two other pieces of Monon equipment joined the display in Linden. The Society also used a nearby ranch house as its "World Headquarters" for Monon Railroad papers and artifacts. After a number of years, a disagreement arose between the owner of the Linden depot and ranch house and the Society. MRHTS had to eventually move its "headquarters" to the replicated Monon depot in Salem, Indiana. Unfortunately, there was no room at Salem for the three pieces of Monon equipment (including the C-283), so they ended up at the Monon Connection Museum.

Les