Boyd Owens posted an item from the News-Gazette today, about the move of an Illinois Central wide vision cupola caboose from a park in Rantoul, Illinois to a privately owned farm. The caboose has the old "split rail" IC herald on its side, but no other markings. I noticed from the photo, that it does not have the "porch" that IC wide vision cabooses had and I wonder if this might actually be a former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio hack? I believe that the GM&O had this type caboose built new for them by International Car Company of Kent, Ohio. They also had some used cabooses (perhaps ex-DL&W?) that were retrofitted with wide vision cupolas. Just wondered if anyone had the story on this particular car. Thanks.

Les

The cabooses that were fitted with International Car Company wide vision cupolas were five Western Maryland cabooses sold to Gulf Mobile and Ohio in the 1960s. Three of them still exist;

WM 1853 > GM&O 2962 > ICG 199062 in Manteno, Illinois
WM 1855 > GM&O 2961 > ICG 199061 in Memphis, Tennessee
WM 1876 > GM&O 2963 > ICG 199063 in Greenfield, Tennessee

Of the three, 1876 is the most prominent. It sits atop a 25 foot pole in the parking lot of Casey Jones Village.

It is, indeed, an exGM&O (nee C&A) caoose.

More info:

Alton C3050 to GM&O 2606 to GM&O 2725 to ICG 199006.

Lincoln -

Thanks! I knew that those second hand cabooses (Western Maryland; not DL&W-thanks wm303) had the wide-vision cupolas added, but didn't realize that some Alton cabooses obviously had it done too.

Les

ICC. That would be Kenton, Ohio, which is now a large building that is falling down.