C&O caboose No. 903572 in active service on the Nicholas, Fayette & Greenbrier at Rainelle, W.Va., in May 1986.
J.R. Kean photo, C&OHS collection
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – The non-profit Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society has taken delivery of its latest piece of full-size historic railroad equipment. Through a generous and much appreciated donation by CSX Corp., the society’s Heritage Center has received steel railroad caboose No. 903572 that was
last based at the Quinnimont, W.Va., terminal of CSX.
last based at the Quinnimont, W.Va., terminal of CSX.
The caboose added to the collection was built in 1941 by Magor Car Co. in Clifton, N.J., as part of an order placed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway for new all-steel cabooses. Its original number was 90086 but when it was rebuilt by C&O’s Grand Rapids, Mich., shops in 1969, its number was changed to 3572. Its number was changed again in 1985 to the current 903572. While it is not yet ready for public display or tours, work will begin in the Spring to restore the caboose to its in-service condition, receive new paint, and will then be opened for viewing by the public.
“CSX is honored to partner with the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society to find a permanent home for the C&O caboose,” said Robert Rohauer, CSX Community Affairs & Safety Manager. “We are pleased that the caboose will be fully restored and available for the public to enjoy.”
The C&O Railway Heritage Center, where the caboose is now displayed, offers a multi-dimensional railroad heritage experience that tells the story of the C&O Railway from its beginning in 1836 to today’s CSX. The story is told through a variety of historic railroad freight and passenger cars, a C&O steam locomotive, C&O diesel locomotive, railroad buildings, and displays of historic artifacts in the former Smith Creek Yard freight house.
