We moved a 1941 B&O wagon-top caboose last Thursday. C 2440 was shoved onto a lowboy trailer from Erickson Trucking out of Stockton, New Jersey, for its 100-mile highway journey from Cressona, PA, to its new home on the Black River & Western in Ringoes, NJ.



Everything went smoothly with the move, and I'd like to send a special thanks to the folks over at the Reading & Northern Railroad for their assistance. While not as tricky as the steam engine or passenger car moves recently discussed on the “Moving Equipment” thread, this diminutive caboose did require a permit for width, and following a permit route can be a challenge. A couple of the tight turns coming out of Cressona yard really made us sweat! We even had to knock on doors to ask some people to move parked cars, and then we still had to crib a curb for one turn.



The owner plans to paint it in its C&O Chessie paint scheme and use it on regular excursion trains for all to enjoy.

While I was only responsible for the move, the owner will be doing the interior and exterior restoration. I will be posting regular updates of his restoration efforts on my website.


Scott Kwiatkowski
Pennsy Railcar Restorations LLC
http://www.prrllc.com

Scott,
Thanks for the update. I assume this is one of the Jim Thorpe cabooses that needed to find a new home. The Black River sure is becoming a great location to see restored rolling stock.

Speaking of moving, have you made any progress on the SW1?

Regards,
Kevin

Let me get this straight: a Chessie caboose is now "historic"? Gad, I'm getting old.

On the other hand, I can see the appeal of a kitty-cat on a brightly-painted caboose......I'm willing to wager that said caboose draws more children's traffic than the usual red caboose......

Yep, Chessie's historic now!

Great news on the move.

Sandy,

You hit the nail on the head. That is exactly why the Chessie is staying on the side!! You know, we are in the entertainment business now.

Kevin,

I'm not sure if this hack was in Jim Thorpe, it was in Cressona for a while though. The SW1 is still in TN, but work is progressing.

C2440 is northbound on I81 in NY.

B&O, if you please...

(Correcting the C&O reference for clarification)

Hey, it's paint. No reason it can't change identities between service years.

Little confusion here I think. The large B&O above the bay window and Chessie System paint (see original photo). Also, this thread goes all the way back to 2009 when it was reported that the caboose was supposed to go to the Black River & Western. Thread now updated due to a truck move. So no longer at the BR&W?

Les

Les,

Yes, the, let me just say, the wagon top caboose with the cat on the side is no longer at Black River & Western.

It is my understanding that the caboose is going to a good home. The caboose was beautifully restored while at the BRW and it was a pleasure to ride in her from time to time. C2440 will be missed.

I am no up on my C&O/B&O history and pant schemes and don't want to offend anyone, hence the "cat" reference, just saying.

Scott

First Chartered RR, NJ
again, for you Howard!

Just discovered I've got a picture of the restored caboose that I took at Ringoes, NJ, back in September 2014..........