On Bob Yarger's new thread about photos of the Central Indiana Railroad, a photo of the CI's ex-Big Four (NYC) caboose #7 is shown. This particular caboose was an "LCL" caboose and had a side door for loading and unloading these less-than-carload shipments, but most Big Four cabooses did not have this feature. What they DID have however, were tall cupolas and "looped" ladder ends. My question is; did any of these Big Four cabooses get preserved? I once heard a rumor of one in Michigan but was never able to track it down.

Les

I suspect the caboose you're looking for is at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. It was for years a part of the Michigan Artrain, but was cast off due to its wood construction and arch-bar trucks. (Had only one original truck as I recall.) It became a project of a chapter of the NYC Historical and Technical Society, which must have had some success at stabilizing and preserving it. So far as I know it hasn't been kicked off the air base, which also houses the Michigan Transit Museum and for a while housed the Artrain. A photo of the 1970's Artrain consist should show this caboose. As I recall it has the extra-height cupola. Stuff at the air base is not available for public viewing.

Other Artrain castoffs include two GTW composite wood/steel baggage cars. One was partially scrapped at MTM, and the other was last seen at the museum in Galveston.

The Artrain now has very high-toned digs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a siding and private-car park off NS. When I passed by yesterday, the Artrain was on the road, but an NYC Budd observation car (48?) was still there.

Aarne:

Thanks for the info! I did a bit of digging and found the the Big Four caboose is numbered NYC 17646. I am a bit confused though as to the current owner. It is not shown on the Michigan Transit Museum website. Perhaps the NYC Historical & Technical Society owns it. Or does the Michigan Artrain still hold title? Anyone know for sure?

Les

Les Beckman wrote, "The Big Four caboose is numbered NYC 17646. It's not shown on the Michigan Transit Museum website. Perhaps the NYC Historical & Technical Society owns it or does the Artrain still hold title?"


Hi Les,

I don't know who owns the NYC/ex-ArTrain caboose but I doubt it's the ArTrain.

Their second caboose, AA 2843, was sold to Dale Fosdick, KO Farm, 7000 Austin Rd., Bridgewater, MI, where it sits on an abandoned LS&MS trestle.

They've been saying since the late 1990's that they plan to sell their current caboose, DT&I 141/ART 5/ARTX 0005, when it's replaced by a proper end car in January! Are they still saying that on their web site?

Cheers, Roger

Hi,

There is/was a wood, high cupola, NYC caboose at 7142 Harlem Rd., just north of Smothers Rd., Halem, OH, near Hoover Reservoir.

Perhaps someone is near enough to Harlem to check on this one? Harlem is about 12 miles NE of downtown Columbus.

Cheers, Roger

Roger asked this question almost 9 years ago now. Anyone ever determine if this caboose actually does exist there?

Thanks!

Les

Bing Maps says "Yes".

Mr. Scranton Yard -

Wow. An answer! After all this time. Thanks so very much!


Les