It's always nice to step back and look at a project as it nears completion-- B&M caboose C-72R is just about finished in this photo taken inside RMNE's Thomaston Shop on Thursday evening, 10/28/10. I had just finished applying the B&M herald decals (4-pieces each). The car had an extensive prep and a repaint to the 1977-78 appearance and number. Coupler and coupler carrier repairs were done as well. A few more touch up items remain to be completed this coming weekend, and then C-72R rolls out the door, headed for the Thomaston Station display track.

Car was built by International Car in 1959, using the underframe and trucks of a 1921 B&M wood-bodied caboose (there were 38 rebuilds). Another rebuilding program in 1975-77 resulted in this red-end paint scheme and roller bearing trucks. Renumbered to 472 in 1980, the car was retired and sold to RMNE in 1992. It was repainted by RMNE once before, in 1998.

Howard P.

Outstanding work! Really takes me back. When did the B&M actually stop using these?
Thanks for posting, Howard!

Stephen

So really what remains from the 1921 caboose? I see that the trucks are modern roller bearing, so maybe the center sill dates back to 1921?

Beautiful paint job BTW!

Great Job guys! that looks awesome. It is going to kill me when it goes outside though. It looks so nice inside away from the elements

Anthony

Thanks for the comments!

The entire underframe (center sill, bolsters, crossbearers, end strikers, end beams, etc.) is from the 1921 car. There is a "1221" casting mark quite visible on top of one end beam. The side sills still have the staples for the old truck corner chains that went away with the old 1921 trucks.

B&M last used cabooses about 1986 or so, at least here in CT. This car was in regular service on "our" line during B&M's operation of it from 1982 until 1995 (cabooses used between 1982 and 1986). There are some shots of B&M 472 trailing a Waterbury-Torrington freight powered by our B&M GP9 1732-- taken in 1982 by Scott Hartley, now one of our engineers.

Howard P.