Central of Ga. wood caboose available on Md.'s Eastern Shore

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:10 am

This turned up on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2153386 ... 229456759/

Quote:

Trying to find a new home for this wooden Central of Georgia X59 Caboose. It will be scrapped if no one takes it as the new owner of the property wants it gone. Doesn't look like it's that bad. If seriously interested , message me. Please understand moving a Caboose is not cheap so please take that in consideration. I will pass on the caretaker's info. No sale price was given. It is located outside Easton Maryland on a farm. I'm trying to save it before the blowtorch and chainsaw !

Now, a caveat:
"Stuffed and mounted" cabooses is one of my sub-specialties, and I have never heard of this one, nor do I see any record of it, but it does match several other CofG cabeese in details. We cannot preclude the possibility this is a replica.

I've contacted the principal realtor involved for more info.

More pics available at the Facebook post.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2874

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Now, a caveat:
"Stuffed and mounted" cabooses is one of my sub-specialties, and I have never heard of this one, nor do I see any record of it, but it does match several other CofG cabeese in details. We cannot preclude the possibility this is a replica.

Looks like several other Cof G cabooses on railroad picture archives, including x57 in FL, note the odd steps and hand brake frame are the same. A lot of weird seams and poor workmanship. The Franklin stove is definitely not original, those things are mocked in Colorado as producing a lot of light but not much heat, an original caboose stove would have been much better.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

Looks an awful lot like CGA X-39, which has been at the Rockhill Trolley Museum since the mid-70's. It has the same plywood sheathing and steps.

Dave · **Posted:** Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:24 am

Yes, from long experience, that's C of G. If memory serves, it is one of some built as conversions of old freight cars, hence the unusual cast steps which preserved the integrity of the side sills from end to end.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:32 pm

I've been shown proof that the car in question was shipped from Spartanburg, SC to Bozman, Md. (one of numerous dead-end peninsular areas on the Eastern Shore via the Chesapeake Bay car float and Easton in September 1971. Buyer was Russell Train(?!), who turns out to have won a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his long record in conservation (among other things, heading up the US division of the World Wildlife Fund).

Mr. Train died over eight years ago:
https://paw.princeton.edu/memorial/russ ... E2%80%9941

Proving once again that if you want to hide a railroad car or body, the Eastern Shore is a good place.................

Reports from 1971 state the caboose weighed 43,000 pounds................. so if you want a caboose but not the huge freight bill of a heavy slab of steel..................

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

I've seen some of the interior photos on Facebook, and the caboose really doesn't look like its in that bad of shape. I think there was a mention of Southern being marked on the truck frames; might these be ex-Southern cabooses that the Central of Georgia picked up? This is one certainly worth saving. Hopefully the owner (or estate) doesn't want an exorbitant price for the old hack!

Les

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

My guess is when the Southern took over the Central of Georgia, they replaced arch bar trucks under the cabooses with these trucks. The car at Rockhill Furnace had an oil stove in when it got there. I don't know what kind of heat it has now.

tomgears · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:40 pm

I've been informed that a deal has been made on this caboose.

Scranton Yard · **Joined:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:08 am **Posts:** 733

tomgears wrote:

I've been informed that a deal has been made on this caboose.

Something to ride behind Audrey?

Reading 900 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:27 pm **Posts:** 118

Going to a museum in Georgia, to be restored and displayed

Alan