For generations of North American train crews, the caboose was more than just a car on the tail of the train. It was office, workshop, lookout post and sometimes even home: the vantage point from which the men at the back kept the whole train in order. From here, they watched for hotboxes, shifting loads or dragging equipment, and did the paperwork that kept the freight moving.
Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 660 stands at Bangor, Maine, with several stablemates stretching into the distance on 23 August 1978. © Bill Rogerson Early cabooses were plain wooden affairs, little more than mobile sheds. Later versions sprouted cupolas or bay windows to give a better view down the length of the train. By the middle of the 20th century, they had become sturdier, better equipped and even more comfortable compared with their predecessors. Modern technology such as radios, trackside detectors, rear-end marker devices gradually rendered them redundant, but the caboose remains one of the enduring icons of American railroading.
An unidentified sheathed Maine Central caboose awaits disposal in the back lot at Waterville Shops in July 1981. Much of its exterior sheathing has been removed, exposing the internal framing, while several retired Maine Central boxcars stand alongside in the background. © Glen Perry Northeastern Style
The caboose type we now call the Northeastern was born on the Reading Company in the early 1920s. Wooden hacks were still the norm, but the Reading wanted something sturdier to cope with the pounding of heavy coal trains. Their answer was an all-steel body: plain, purposeful and strong enough to stand years of rough service.
Between 1923 and 1924, the Reading built 285 cars of this type across several classes. The first had solid underframes; later builds introduced Duryea cushion underframes that smoothed the ride for crews on rough track. The design was so successful that other Northeastern roads soon followed. The Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh & West Virginia and Western Maryland all rostered similar cars. Some were built by the Reading, others in home shops, and each batch had its own quirks — differences in trucks, steps, running boards, grab irons and whether or not the end walls carried windows.
What they all had in common was toughness. Northeasterns lasted into the Conrail and Chessie years, and many found second lives on Class I and short lines. A fair number survive today in museums, on tourist lines or adapted for new uses, from cabins to hotel rooms. They may not have had the striking profile of the wide-visions, but as dependable workhorses, they were about as good as it got.
International Wide Vision
By the 1950s, freight cars were getting taller, and a man perched in an old-style cupola could barely see past the first couple of box cars. The solution was simple: extend the cupola out over the sides of the carbody and restore the crew’s view along the train. Thus, the wide-vision, or extended-vision, caboose was born — instantly recognisable, unmistakably modern and very much the last word in caboose design.
Some roads, such as the Rock Island, were created by fitting extensions to existing cars. Most, however, were purpose-built, with the International Car Company taking the lead and turning out hundreds for railroads across the continent. The wider cupola not only gave a clear line of sight past high-sided cars but also made for a roomier interior, a small but welcome concession to crew comfort.
In many ways, the wide-vision was the caboose’s last hurrah. Modern, practical and still common into the 1980s, they were finally displaced when electronic train-end devices took over.
Greenwich & Johnsonville
Greenwich & Johnsonville wooden caboose No. 35823 is seen at Mechanicville, New York, on 20 April 1978. Originally built for the Delaware & Hudson, the caboose was repainted into the G&J’s distinctive orange-and-black livery to accompany RS3 No. 4116. The reason for its visit to Mechanicville is uncertain, although it may have been there for repairs beyond the short line’s own capabilities. Photo by Richard Gassett. © Gordon Smith Greenwich & Johnsonville caboose No. 35823 is seen at Mechanicville, New York, on 24 October 1980. Built for the Delaware & Hudson, the wooden caboose was repainted into the short line’s distinctive orange-and-black livery alongside RS3 No. 4116, becoming one of the most recognisable pieces of G&J rolling stock. Photo by Richard Gassett. © Gordon Smith Maine Central
On the Maine Central, the caboose was always the “buggy”, and the fleet reflected the line’s character: varied, hard-working and often rebuilt to suit the times. Wooden cars from the First World War era were rebuilt with plywood sides. Others were sheathed in steel at Waterville. The road also rostered International wide-visions and three distinctive home-built long cabooses on express reefer trucks, with either vertical or sloped cupola sides.
By the Guilford era, the writing was on the wall, but the buggies clung on. One even received the grey-and-orange Guilford scheme, the only MEC caboose ever to do so.
Maine Central caboose No. 468 stands outside the railroad’s shops at Lewiston, Maine, in 1934, with smoke rising from its stove chimney as the car awaits its next assignment. Built by the Maine Central in 1907, No. 468 represents the railroad’s distinctive fleet of wooden cabooses that served freight trains across the system during the first half of the twentieth century. The unusually large number of side windows reflects the car’s original design, while the Lewiston shops formed one of several important maintenance facilities on the Maine Central. © David S. Hutchinson Collection Caboose No. 558, shown before reskinning in plywood, retains its original wood siding typical of Maine Central’s earlier “buggies.” © Geoff Quadland. Three generations of Maine Central cabooses stand on the caboose track at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, on 26 July 1977. Closest to the camera is rebuilt wooden caboose 559R with its plywood sheathing, behind it is steel-sided rebuild 623R, while International-built wide-vision caboose 670 stands in the background. Together they illustrate the remarkable variety of caboose designs employed by the Maine Central during the late 1970s. © Thomas L. Seiler Maine Central wooden caboose No. 559R stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 3 October 1978. Originally built as a traditional wooden caboose, No. 559R was among several cars that received plywood side sheathing as a cost-effective rebuilding measure, extending their service lives well into the late 1970s. Still carrying the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan and Pine Tree Route herald, the veteran caboose illustrates the Maine Central’s practical approach to maintaining its ageing caboose fleet during its final years of regular use. © W. M. Matuch Maine Central caboose No. 559R stands at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on 2 June 1980. The car carries the bright yellow safety scheme with “Think Safety, Work Safely” lettering, typical of later MEC caboose repaints. © Richard Merriam Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 560R stands at Waterville, Maine, showing the effects of hard service, with heavily worn paint revealing the timber beneath the yellow finish. Despite its tired appearance, the caboose retains its distinctive cupola and practical detailing, typical of MEC’s working fleet in the late 1970s. 22 August 1978 © Bill Rogerson Maine Central caboose 563 is on display at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, in September 1965. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 581, a rebuilt 1911 Laconia Car Company caboose, stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, in September 1968. The veteran caboose retains its original narrow cupola while carrying steel sheathing, harvest gold paint and the Pine Tree Route herald applied during its rebuilding. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 581 is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 3 December 1975. Built by the Laconia Car Company in 1911, the veteran caboose remains in front-line service 64 years later, wearing weathered Harvest Gold paint beneath the Pine Tree Route herald. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 582R stands at Waterville, Maine, on 29 July 1978, during rebuilding. The newly fitted plywood side sheathing remains unpainted, contrasting sharply with the weathered Harvest Gold finish on the rest of the caboose and illustrating the railroad’s pragmatic approach to extending the life of its ageing wooden caboose fleet. © Bill Johnson Maine Central Railroad caboose 582 stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, in the summer of 1980. The weathered wooden caboose carries the railroad’s distinctive “Pine Tree Route” herald and shows the effects of years of hard service. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central caboose 587R stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides while retaining its centred monitor, truss rods and arched roof. No. 587R illustrates one of the many variations found within Maine Central’s fleet of rebuilt “steam-era” cabooses, as the railroad continually modernised older equipment rather than replacing it outright. Finished in the familiar Harvest Gold livery with the Pine Tree Route herald and “Think Safety – Work Safely” slogan, it remained a regular sight on freight trains during the 1970s. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose 587R stands at Bangor, Maine, on 15 July 1978, wearing the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Raymond Roy Maine Central caboose 589 stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, no. 589 was later rebuilt with plywood sides, while retaining its centred monitor, truss rods and arched roof. It was one of several surviving “steam-era” cabooses modernised by the railroad to extend their working lives, resulting in a fascinating mix of construction styles that remained in everyday service well into the diesel era. © Rich Gibson Maine Central wooden caboose No. 599 stands in Bangor, Maine, on 29 May 1957. One of the railroad’s long-serving wooden cabooses, it represents a type that had been a familiar sight on freight trains for decades. By the late 1950s, these cars were steadily giving way to newer steel cabooses, making scenes such as this increasingly uncommon. Visible on the body sides are the distinctive Pine Tree Route herald and the reinforced flag brackets fitted at each corner, details familiar to generations of Maine Central train crews. © Ray Higgins Maine Central caboose 599R stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976 bearing the scars of a stove fire. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, it was rebuilt with Masonite (hardboard) sides, an off-centre monitor and an arched roof as part of the railroad’s programme to modernise its ageing caboose fleet. According to a former Maine Central employee, the damage seen here resulted from a kerosene stove being mounted too close to the wall without an asbestos heat shield, causing the Masonite sheathing to burn. Despite its battered appearance, 599R remained in service, illustrating both the durability of the rebuilds and the practical approach the Maine Central took to keeping its caboose fleet in operation. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose No. 600 is seen at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1948. The Pine Tree Route herald is prominently displayed on the car side, while the clean appearance suggests it had been repainted not long before this photograph was taken. St. Johnsbury was one of the Maine Central’s principal freight terminals and an important interchange point with several connecting railroads, making cabooses such as No. 600 a familiar sight at the western end of the Mountain Division. © David S. Hutchinson Collection Maine Central caboose 600R stands at Waterville, Maine, in July 1976. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, it was rebuilt with an off-centre monitor and arched roof as part of the railroad’s programme to modernise its ageing caboose fleet. No. 600R appears to incorporate a mix of Masonite (hardboard) and plywood sheathing, making it one of the more unusual examples of the class. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose No. 606 rests in Bangor, Maine, on 10 September 1973. Although showing the effects of years of service, it still carries the railroad’s distinctive harvest yellow paint scheme with the large Pine Tree Route herald applied to the car side. Bangor remained an important operating centre for the Maine Central, and cabooses such as No. 606 were a familiar presence in the yard as freight trains were assembled and crews prepared for their next assignments. © D. H. Hemley Collection Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 606R at Waterville, Maine, on 22 August 1978. One of the railroad’s distinctive rebuilt “Plywood Pullman” cabooses, it carries the bright yellow Pine Tree Route livery that became a hallmark of Maine Central freight operations during the 1970s. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central caboose 612 is seen at Oakland, Maine, on 19 April 1976, as a crew member on the rear platform speaks with a member of the ground staff. Originally built as a wooden caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. The Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald typify the appearance of Maine Central’s rebuilt caboose fleet during the mid-1970s. © Richard B. Gassett Maine Central wooden caboose 612R re-sheathed with steel at Waterville, ME, in April 1980. © George Melvin Collection Maine Central Caboose #614R is seen at Livermore Falls, ME on 8 December 1977. © Richard Merriam Maine Central caboose 614R stands in the upper yard at Rockland, Maine, in September 1978. A string of Maine Central covered hoppers, employed in cement service from nearby Dragon Products at Thomaston, forms the backdrop to the rebuilt caboose in its Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Glen Perry Caboose #614R, a plywood-sheathed example from Maine Central’s eclectic fleet, stands at Newport Junction in 1982, awaiting a run to Dover-Foxcroft. © Michael Shufelt Maine Central caboose 617R brings up the rear of northbound Farmington Local LD-3 near Jay, Maine, on 18 February 1980. Originally built as a wooden caboose, it was later rebuilt with steel sides while retaining its off-centre cupola. The weathered Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald contrast with the bright red CP Rail boxcars ahead, creating a classic winter scene on the Maine Central. © Thomas L. Seiler Maine Central caboose 617R is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 15 January 1985. Originally built as a wooden caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides while retaining its off-centre cupola. Fresh snow and low winter sunshine highlight the Harvest Gold paint, large “MAINE CENTRAL” lettering and Pine Tree Route herald as the crew prepare for another day’s work. © Chuck Zeiler Maine Central caboose 617R stands at Portland, Maine, on 26 December 1984. The rebuilt caboose still wears the faded Harvest Gold paint scheme and Pine Tree Route herald as the era of caboose operation on the Guilford Rail System draws to a close. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 618R brings up the rear of WI-2, the Wood Job, at Pleasant Street, Oakland, Maine, on 15 July 1981. The train is loaded with pulpwood on Maine Central bulkhead flatcars, destined to supply the paper industry that generated much of the railroad’s traffic. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 623 is seen at Bangor, Maine, on 2 November 1974. Originally built as a wooden caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. Fresh Harvest Gold paint, white-trimmed windows and the Pine Tree Route herald give the rebuilt caboose a smart appearance early in its service. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 623R is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 3 December 1975. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 623R stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides, a new off-centre monitor and a peaked roof as part of the railroad’s programme to modernise its ageing caboose fleet. The rebuild gave the veteran caboose a noticeably more contemporary appearance while extending its working life well into the diesel era. © Rich Gibson Thomas Seiler photographed Maine Central caboose 623R resting at the end of the caboose track in Bangor, Maine, on 24 July 1977. Originally built as wooden caboose No. 623, it was rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. The three side windows, Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald are characteristic of this distinctive class of rebuilt cabooses during the late 1970s. © Thomas L. Seiler Originally a wooden caboose, Maine Central #623R was one of a few that were rebuilt with steel sides and ends and new aluminium window frames. Bangor, ME. 16 February 1983 © D.S.Hutchinson Collection Maine Central caboose 625 is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 3 December 1975. The weathered Harvest Gold paint highlights the exposed framing and plywood side panels that gave this rebuilt caboose a distinctive appearance. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 627R is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 3 December 1975. Originally built from a wooden caboose, its rebuilt body features plywood side panels, now heavily weathered after years of service, with only traces of the Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald remaining. © Waldo H. Kingston Freshly painted Maine Central caboose No. 627R stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during March 1976. Carrying the railroad’s simplified tree emblem and bold lettering introduced during the Guilford era’s approach to corporate branding, the car also displays the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan applied to the body side. Rigby Yard was the Maine Central’s principal freight terminal, where cabooses were assigned to road freights departing for destinations across the system. © George Melvin Collection Maine Central caboose No. 627R stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during May 1976. Carrying the railroad’s later harvest yellow paint scheme with the simplified tree emblem and bold “MAINE CENTRAL” lettering, the caboose also displays the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan. The suffix “R” indicated that the car was restricted to service on the Maine Central, reflecting its assignment within the railroad’s own operating territory during the final decade of independent operation. © Jack Bowles Maine Central caboose 627R stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, in July 1976. Originally built as a wood-sheathed caboose, it was rebuilt with plywood sheathing, a new off-centre monitor and a peaked roof as part of the railroad’s programme to modernise its ageing caboose fleet. Freshly repainted in the striking Harvest Gold livery with the Pine Tree emblem, no. 627R presents a smart contrast to many of its more weathered stablemates. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose 627R brings up the rear of a local freight as it departs Waterville Yard, Maine, on 28 July 1979. Originally built as wooden caboose No. 627, it was rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. The well-weathered Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald are typical of Maine Central’s rebuilt caboose fleet during the late 1970s. © Paul De Luca Former Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 630 stands at Belfast, Maine, in June 1991. Although destined to become Belfast & Moosehead Lake No. 31, it had not yet been renumbered or repainted and still carried its Maine Central Pine Tree Route livery. The caboose remains in service on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad today. © Joe Feero Maine Central caboose 631R trails a train of pulpwood flats through Dexter, Maine, in April 1977. Originally built as a wooden caboose, it was rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. The Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald stand out against the mill buildings as the train passes through one of Maine’s traditional forest products communities. © Robert Kaplan Maine Central caboose 631R brings up the rear of the Dover-Foxcroft Job at Allen Street, Waterville, Maine, on 1 July 1981. The colourful consist includes an Ann Arbor covered hopper, a Chicago & North Western boxcar still in Rock Island paint, a Canadian Pacific stepped-gothic boxcar and a Central Vermont boxcar, hauled by a GE U18B. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 634R stands at Waterville, Maine, on 25 July 1976. The rebuilt caboose wears the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Richard B. Gassett Freshly outshopped in Maine Central’s striking harvest yellow and green livery, caboose No. 635 is photographed at Waterville, Maine, in 1954. The newly applied Pine Tree Route herald and immaculate finish contrast with the shop buildings in the background, capturing the car at the beginning of another period of service. Waterville was the railroad’s principal mechanical facility, where locomotives and rolling stock received repairs, rebuilding and repainting throughout the Maine Central system. © David S. Hutchinson Collection John Kane captured Maine Central caboose 635R in Bangor, Maine, on 22 June 1975, while a crew member takes a break beside the track. Originally built as wooden caboose No. 635, it was later rebuilt with steel sides and an off-centre cupola at Waterville Shops. The well-weathered Harvest Gold paint, large “MEC” lettering and Pine Tree Route herald typify the appearance of Maine Central’s rebuilt caboose fleet during the mid-1970s. The Star Beef Co. billboard provides a distinctive Bangor backdrop. © Doug Harrop Collection Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 637 stands at Madison, Maine, in 1965. One of the few surviving traditional cabooses that had not yet received plywood sheathing, it carries the railroad’s first yellow paint scheme, introduced in 1954. © George Melvin Maine Central caboose 637R stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. One of the railroad’s rebuilt “steam-era” cabooses, no. 637R retained its original off-centre monitor and peaked roof while receiving steel side sheathing during rebuilding. The heavily weathered Harvest Gold finish illustrates the hard service these veteran cabooses saw into the 1970s. © Rich Gibson Boston & Maine GP9 1734 and Maine Central caboose 640 are seen at Rigby Yard, South Portland, on 7 September 1983. The contrast between Boston & Maine’s striking Blue Dip livery and Maine Central’s Harvest Gold paint scheme illustrates the distinct identities the two railroads still retained under Guilford ownership. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 641 stands at South Portland, Maine, on 11 February 1976. The wide-vision caboose wears the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Richard B. Gassett Maine Central International wide-vision caboose 641 stands on the ready track at Rigby Yard, South Portland, in August 1981. The caboose wears the railroad’s harvest gold paint scheme and Pine Tree Route herald while awaiting its next assignment. © Dan Mackey Maine Central International Car Company wide-vision caboose 642 stands at South Portland on 21 April 1976. Built in 1973, the steel-bodied caboose carries the Pine Tree Route herald, harvest gold paint and “Think Safety – Work Safely” slogan introduced during the 1970s modernisation of the caboose fleet. © Richard B. Gassett Maine Central caboose No. 642 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during May 1976. One of the railroad’s modern steel cabooses, it carries the harvest yellow paint scheme with the pine tree emblem and the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan applied prominently across the body side. Rigby Yard remained the centre of Maine Central freight operations, where cabooses such as No. 642 were assigned to road freights departing across the railroad’s extensive network. © Jack Bowles Maine Central Railroad extended vision caboose No. 642 stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, on 21 August 1978. © Bill Rogerson Caboose #642, an International wide vision type with tabbed side sills, at Rigby Yard in August 1978. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose 643 is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 25 October 1974. Built by International Car Company in 1963, it was one of six wide-vision cabooses purchased by the railroad. The distinctive wide-vision cupola, bright Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald typify the appearance of Maine Central’s modern caboose fleet during the mid-1970s. © T. F. Morris Maine Central caboose No. 643 is seen in bright yellow livery at South Portland, Maine, 19 August 1981. Built in 1974 by International Car Company, this steel caboose reflects the later standardised designs adopted by many railroads, with extended platforms, safety railings, and a compact cupola. © Matt Herson Maine Central International Car Company wide-vision caboose 644 is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 3 December 1975, wearing the Harvest Gold paint scheme and Pine Tree Route herald introduced during the 1970s modernisation programme. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 644 stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, on 29 April 1984. The wide-vision caboose wears Guilford’s grey and orange corporate paint scheme with the large “G” logo. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose #644 at South Portland, Maine, on 7 May 1984, wearing Guilford’s grey-and-orange paint scheme, the only MEC caboose to receive this treatment. © Chuck Zeiler Maine Central caboose 644 stands in Bangor Yard on 25 August 1984, wearing Guilford’s grey and orange corporate paint scheme. It was the only Maine Central caboose to receive the new livery, while the Harvest Gold-painted cabooses in the background retained their original appearance. © Glen Perry Brand-new Maine Central caboose #645, only a month old, at Rigby Yard (South Portland, Maine) in November 1972. © George Melvin Collection Maine Central caboose 645 trails BR-4, the Bangor–Rigby freight, at Broadway, South Portland, Maine, on 23 August 1981. Still wearing faded Harvest Gold paint and the Pine Tree Route herald, the caboose follows Bangor & Aroostook boxcar 6307. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose no. 646, a converted boxcar, stands alongside an International-built wide-vision caboose in Harvest Gold at St. Johnsbury in May 1975. The pairing neatly captures the transition from older rebuilt equipment to more modern caboose designs in MEC service, set against the busy three-road junction of the CP, MEC and St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County. © Brian Nicholson Maine Central caboose 647, the first of four long home-built cabooses riding on express reefer trucks with vertical cupola sides, stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, in October 1968. Finished in Harvest Gold with the Pine Tree Route herald, it introduced the final class of home-built cabooses constructed by the railroad. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central caboose 648 brings up the rear of a westbound freight entering Rigby Yard at Tower PT, South Portland, Maine, in August 1974. Immediately ahead of the caboose is a Trailer Train flatcar carrying a TOFC trailer, reflecting the growing importance of intermodal traffic on the Maine Central. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 648R stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, in July 1976. One of the railroad’s distinctive long home-built cabooses, it rode on former express refrigerator car trucks and featured the characteristic sloping sides to its cupola. Constructed in the railroad’s own shops rather than purchased from a commercial builder, cars like no. 648 became an unmistakable part of the Maine Central’s freight operations and remained in regular service into the Guilford era. © Rich Gibson Maine Central Cupola Caboose #648R at Hermon, Maine, on 23 July 1977. Home-built at Waterville Shops in 1976, this caboose was one of three of this design on the MEC roster. © Thomas Seiler A Maine Central caboose #648R adds a classic touch to a train departing Rigby Yard, Portland, Maine, on 15 March 1977. The trainman strikes a pose that would likely raise eyebrows in today’s safety-conscious world. Also seen in the mix is WHSX 112, a W. H. Shurtleff Co. PS 4427 cu. ft. PS 3-bay hopper, specifically used for salt traffic. © Doug Lilly Maine Central caboose 648R is shoved back into the yard at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on 28 July 1978, with the conductor riding the rear platform. Originally built at Waterville Shops using express refrigerator car trucks, No. 648R was one of two distinctive long cabooses rebuilt with sloping cupola sides. Bathed in late afternoon light, the Harvest Gold caboose presents a striking example of one of the Maine Central’s most distinctive home-built designs. © Bill Johnson Maine Central International wide-vision caboose 648R stands at the engine facility in Rockland’s upper yard on 24 August 1980. The caboose is shown in the railroad’s harvest gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree herald, awaiting its next assignment. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 648R brings up the rear of Train 324 as it heads west through Pleasant Gardens, Rockland, on 25 August 1980. Led by engineer Charlie McLain, the train is dominated by Dragon Cement bulk cars as it departs Rockland. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 648R brings up the rear of a westbound freight at Pleasant Gardens, Rockland, Maine, on 28 August 1981. The train includes covered hoppers, likely carrying cement traffic from Dragon Products at Thomaston, while the wide-vision caboose wears the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 648R is seen at South Portland, Maine, on 7 May 1984. One of two long cabooses constructed at Waterville Shops using express refrigerator car trucks, No. 648R was rebuilt with sloping cupola sides, giving it a distinctive appearance within the railroad’s diverse caboose fleet. It is shown in the simplified Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald and large “MAINE CENTRAL” lettering. © Chuck Zeiler Maine Central caboose 649R stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. One of the railroad’s distinctive long home-built cabooses, it rode on former express refrigerator car trucks and featured the characteristic sloping sides to its cupola. Constructed in the Maine Central’s own shops rather than by a commercial builder, these cabooses served freight trains across the system for decades. The bold Harvest Gold paint scheme, complete with the Pine Tree emblem and “Think Safety – Work Safely” slogan, typified the railroad’s appearance during the 1970s. © Rich Gibson Maine Central caboose 649R, one of the railroad’s long home-built cabooses, stands at Bangor on 25 May 1981. Riding on express reefer trucks and distinguished by its sloped cupola sides, it is seen alongside cabooses of other designs that remained in service at the time. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 656 is seen in November 1967. However, the published identification and date appear to conflict with the railroad’s renumbering of 656 to 650R in 1963 to free numbers 655–659 for the new International Car Company wide-vision cabooses. © Waldo H. Kingston Maine Central wide-vision caboose 652 stands at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, in August 1978. One of four International-built cabooses, numbered 651–654, the class featured straight side sills and the enlarged cupola that gave crews improved visibility over increasingly taller freight cars. Wearing Maine Central’s bright Harvest Gold livery with the familiar “Think Safety – Work Safely” slogan, no. 652 represents the modern generation of cabooses that complemented the railroad’s fleet of distinctive home-built cars during the late 1970s. © Rich Gibson Maine Central Railroad extended vision caboose No. 653 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 21 August 1978. Painted in the railroad’s distinctive bright yellow scheme with prominent safety slogans and the Pine Tree emblem, the caboose represents a type widely adopted across North America to improve crew visibility around high and wide freight loads. No. 653 was one of Maine Central’s fleet of International Car-built extended vision cabooses and was a familiar sight on freight trains throughout New England during the 1970s and 1980s. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central caboose 655 brings up the rear of a freight at Northern Maine Junction, Maine, on 29 July 1978. Built by International Car Company in 1963, No. 655 was one of five standard cupola cabooses purchased by the railroad, providing a contrast to Maine Central’s many home-built and rebuilt designs. The caboose is seen in the familiar Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald, trailing a Canadian National boxcar as the train heads through the junction. © Bill Johnson Maine Central caboose 654 trails a local freight past Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, in June 1985. Photographed from Rigby Tower, the caboose still wears the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald during the final months of regular caboose operation. © Frank Keller Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 655 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 21 August 1978. Built by International Car in 1964, the cupola caboose wears Maine Central’s distinctive yellow Pine Tree Route livery. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central Railroad caboose No. 655 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during the summer of 1980. Freshly painted in the railroad’s distinctive safety yellow livery, the caboose carries the prominent slogan “Think Safety, Work Safely” alongside the Maine Central pine tree emblem. Cars such as No. 655 were still a familiar sight on freight trains across the system at the time, providing accommodation and office space for train crews. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central Railroad cabooses Nos. 655 and 656 stand at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 21 August 1978. Both International Car-built cupola cabooses wear the railroad’s distinctive yellow Pine Tree Route livery, with No. 656 still carrying its original factory paint. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central Railroad cupola caboose No. 656 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 21 August 1978. Painted in the railroad’s distinctive yellow livery, it was one of the traditional cabooses that remained a familiar sight on Maine Central freight trains during the 1970s and 1980s. © Bill Rogerson Maine Central caboose 656 is preserved alongside the former City Point station at the City Point Railroad Museum near Belfast, Maine, on 7 June 2022. Built by International Car Company in 1963, No. 656 was one of five standard cupola cabooses purchased by the Maine Central. Although showing the effects of long-term outdoor storage, it remains an important survivor of the railroad’s final class of standard cupola cabooses. © Jeff Terry Maine Central caboose No. 658 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during May 1976. Finished in the railroad’s later harvest yellow paint scheme with the simplified tree emblem and large “MAINE CENTRAL” lettering, the car also carries the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan. Rigby remained the railroad’s principal freight terminal, where cabooses such as No. 658 were assigned to road freights operating across the Maine Central system. © Jack Bowles Maine Central caboose 658 stands at the head of a line of cabooses in Bangor Yard on 10 July 1981. The photograph captures several of the railroad’s cabooses assembled in Harvest Gold paint during the final years of regular caboose operation. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose No. 659 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during May 1976. Finished in the railroad’s later harvest yellow paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald, the car carries the familiar “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan that became a standard feature of the fleet during the 1970s. Photographed alongside other cabooses awaiting their next assignments, No. 659 represents the everyday appearance of Maine Central’s road caboose fleet during the final decade before cabooses disappeared from regular freight service. © Jack Bowles Maine Central International Standard Cupola caboose 659 stands at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976. Part of the railroad’s fleet of International-built steel cabooses, no. 659 features the distinctive standard cupola design that contrasted with Maine Central’s numerous home-built cabooses. Finished in Harvest Gold with the Pine Tree Route herald, it typifies the modern steel cabooses that worked freight trains across the system during the 1970s. Today, it is preserved at Tilton, New Hampshire. © Rich Gibson Portland Terminal ALCO S3 no. 1101 works at South Portland, Maine, on 7 May 1984 with Maine Central caboose 659 and a short cut of freight cars. The scene captures everyday terminal switching on the Portland Terminal, where MEC cabooses remained in regular service during the final years before cabooses disappeared from road freights. © Chuck Zeiler Former Western Maryland caboose 1878, purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered 660, is preserved at the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Maine, on 11 June 1989. One of five Northeastern-style cabooses acquired second-hand from the Western Maryland, it is shown in well-maintained Harvest Gold paint with the Pine Tree Route herald following restoration. © Bill Kalkman Former Western Maryland caboose 1878, purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered 660, is displayed at the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Maine, on 11 June 2016. Carefully restored to its Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald, it is one of five Northeastern-style cabooses acquired second-hand from the Western Maryland. © NewEngRailPhotos Maine Central caboose No. 661 stands at Bangor, Maine, on 29 August 1986. One of five cabooses acquired second-hand from the Western Maryland Railway, No. 661 retained the distinctive design of its former owner while wearing the Maine Central’s harvest yellow paint and Pine Tree Route herald. By the time this photograph was taken, cabooses were rapidly disappearing from freight trains across North America, making scenes such as this among the last of an era on the Maine Central. © Richard Louderback Former Western Maryland caboose 1904, purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered 661, is seen at the Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut, on 19 April 2013. One of five Northeastern-style cabooses acquired second-hand from the Western Maryland, it still carries faded traces of its Harvest Gold paint and Pine Tree Route herald after many years of outdoor storage. © James R The interior of former Western Maryland caboose 1904, purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered 661, is seen at the Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut, on 9 September 2022. Looking towards the end platform, the photograph shows the cupola seating, lockers and crew accommodation, illustrating the functional yet comfortable working environment provided in the Northeastern-style cabooses acquired from the Western Maryland. © Otto Vondrak The interior of Maine Central caboose 661, photographed at the Danbury Railway Museum in September 2022. Built for the Western Maryland in 1940 before joining the Maine Central roster, the caboose retains many of its original fittings, including the conductor’s desk, coal stove, wash basin and lockers. It was donated to the Danbury Railway Museum in 2000. © Otto Vondrak Maine Central caboose No. 662 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, on 25 June 1968. One of five cabooses purchased second-hand from the Western Maryland Railway, No. 662 retained its distinctive carbody and Andrews trucks after entering Maine Central service. Repainted into the railroad’s harvest yellow and green Pine Tree Route livery, it represents the transition from the Maine Central’s ageing wooden caboose fleet to more modern steel equipment during the 1960s. © Mike Vaiuso Maine Central caboose No. 662 stands at Bangor, Maine, 22 September 1974. This caboose, with its cupola, end platforms, and handbrake wheel, shows the well-worn appearance of long-serving equipment still in everyday use on the MEC during the 1970s. © Matt Herson Maine Central caboose 662 brings up the rear of a freight train at Bangor, Maine, in July 1976, with crew members riding the rear platform. Originally built as Western Maryland no. 1804, this Northeastern-style caboose was purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered into the 661–674 series. Finished in the railroad’s Harvest Gold livery with the Pine Tree emblem, no. 662 typifies the second-hand cabooses that supplemented Maine Central’s home-built fleet during the 1970s. Following retirement, the caboose found a second life at Kimball Oil in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, having been moved there from Canaan, Connecticut. © Rich Gibson Maine Central steel cupola caboose No. 662 at Bangor, Maine, on 15 May 1977. Originally from the Western Maryland Railroad. © Matt Herson Maine Central GP7 593 and U18B 406 work the Bucksport Local at Bucksport, Maine, on 24 June 1981, with ex-Western Maryland Northeastern-style caboose 662 bringing up the rear. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 662, an ex-Western Maryland northeastern-style caboose, brings up the rear of the Bucksport Local at Parker Street, Brewer, Maine, on 31 July 1981. A string of black tank cars dominates the consist as the caboose wears the Harvest Gold paint scheme with the Pine Tree Route herald. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 662, purchased second-hand from the Western Maryland in 1962 (formerly WM 1838), brings up the rear of the Bucksport local as it departs Bucksport, Maine, on 2 September 1983. Still wearing the faded Harvest Gold paint scheme and Pine Tree Route herald, the veteran caboose remained in service during the final years of caboose operation. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 663 brings up the rear of the westbound Old Town Local at Orono, Maine, in May 1975. Crew members ride the rear platform and cupola as the local handles a tank car on the branch. © Glen Perry Maine Central caboose 663 brings up the rear of the Old Town Local as it passes through Veazie, Maine, on 16 July 1980. The ex-Western Maryland Northeastern-style caboose trails a weathered Maine Central boxcar as the local heads north toward Old Town. © Glen Perry Boston & Maine F7 No. 4228 leads a westbound Rigby-Worcester freight extra out of Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, on 11 March 1967, as an eastbound Maine Central freight prepares to depart in the opposite direction. Bringing up the rear of the Maine Central train is caboose No. 664, one of the railroad’s former Western Maryland cabooses, still riding on its original Andrews trucks. The busy scene captures Rigby at the height of its activity, with freight traffic from both railroads sharing New England’s busiest rail terminal. © J. Emmons Lancaster Maine Central caboose #664 at Waterville, Maine, in October 1971. These cars, purchased from the Western Maryland Railroad, originally entered service in harvest yellow and black with an offset emblem and Andrews trucks. © David Hutchinson Maine Central Caboose 664, a classic Northeastern design, was photographed in Calais, Maine, in October 1978. Now preserved at the Danbury Railway Museum , Connecticut, this caboose reflects the enduring legacy of railroading in the Northeast. © George Berisso Maine Central caboose No. 664 stands at Bangor, Maine, August 1983. © Matt Herson Former Western Maryland caboose 1837, purchased by the Maine Central in 1962 and renumbered 664, is seen at the Danbury Railway Museum, Connecticut, on 19 April 2013. After retirement, it was stored on the Smedick siding at Canaan, where it was damaged by fire before eventually being acquired by the museum. The faded Harvest Gold paint and weathered condition reflect many years of outdoor storage. © James R Maine Central caboose 670 rides in the middle of train SB-4 at CP Ham, Allentown, Pennsylvania, on 5 July 1984. Mid-train cabooses were used on some Guilford-operated freights to facilitate reverse moves and local set-outs, making this an unusual but not uncommon operating practice during the final years of caboose use. © John Frantz Former Maine Central caboose 670 brings up the rear of Delaware & Hudson train SB-4 at CP Ham, Allentown, Pennsylvania, on 25 August 1984. The International Car Company wide-vision caboose trails a Bethlehem & New England gondola during its service away from home rails. © John Frantz As International Wide Vision caboose #671 of YR-1 St. Johnsbury – Rigby Yard, Portland clears the B&M diamond in Whitefield , NH, a crewman adjusts the ball signal—the last of its kind in regular railroad service. The ball on the left will be hoisted to the high position, signalling the B&M to proceed, a practice that inspired the term “highball.” © Doug Kroll Maine Central caboose No. 671 stands at Whitefield, New Hampshire, in 1980. Finished in the railroad’s final high-visibility paint scheme with the simplified tree emblem and “Think Safety, Work Safely” slogan, the steel caboose was typical of those assigned to road freights during the closing years of independent Maine Central operations. Whitefield remained an important junction on the Mountain Division, where the line to Berlin and Groveton diverged from the route west towards St. Johnsbury. © Dave Albert Maine Central caboose 671 trails a westbound freight near the Hoosac Tunnel, Massachusetts, in June 1984. Still wearing faded Harvest Gold paint and the Pine Tree Route herald, the veteran caboose represents the final months of caboose operation on the Guilford Rail System. © Ken Buckman Maine Central International wide-vision caboose 671 brings up the rear of train NE-84 at WK, Allentown, Pennsylvania, in January 1985. The photograph captures one of the railroad’s International Car Company cabooses operating far from home rails during the final years of caboose service. © John Frantz Maine Central International wide-vision caboose 672 brings up the rear of a northbound freight at CP KASE. Delivered to the Maine Central in November 1981, it was the last caboose purchased by the railroad and later transferred to the Delaware & Hudson. © Randy Eisenhower Maine Central International wide-vision caboose 672 brings up the rear of train BS-1 at Packerton Junction, Pennsylvania, in July 1985. Delivered to the Maine Central by Boston & Maine at Whitefield, New Hampshire, in November 1981, it was the last caboose purchased by the railroad and later transferred to the Delaware & Hudson. © John Frantz MEC roster highlights:
600–639: assorted WWI-era wooden cabooses rebuilt with plywood sides640–641: International wide-visions with straight side sills642–645: International wide-visions with tabbed side sills646: one-off caboose built from a boxcar at Waterville647: long home-built on express reefer trucks with vertical cupola sides648–650: long home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides651–654: International wide-visions with straight side sills655–659: International standard cupola cabooses660–664: ex-Western Maryland Northeasterns670–672: International wide-visions with tabbed side sills, built without running boards
Cabooses with an “R” suffix were restricted to home-road service. The phase-out began in earnest under Guilford in 1985.
No. Details RRPA Notes … 537 836457 … 558 559/559R 692696 560 193695 561 562 563 4204953 Preserved at Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay, ME.http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec563.html … 571 … 581/581R 1911 Laconia Car Company 674387 582/582R http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec582.html 583 584 585 586 587 588 589/589R 599 … 603/603R Wood; Ice Cream Depot, Hooksett, NH. 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 674566 611 836459 612/612R Micro-Trains 100 00 610 ★ 613 614 397776 615 616/616R 710267 Payton Hill Farm Rental Cabin, Knox, ME. Moved from Belfast, ME.★ 617/617R 629149 618/618R 692927 619 620 621 543930 622 623/623R 396594 624 625 626 627/627R 676334 Stored on Smedick siding, Canaan, CT. Gregg Little, owner (Pembroke Pines, FL). For sale. 628 3553265 629/629R Cliff Birsch, 117 Webb Circle, Monroe, CT. Moved from Canaan, CT. 630 2910794 Intervale in New England Glory: Mountain Division. Preserved at the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, Belfast, ME. 631/631R Preserved at the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, Belfast, ME. 632 634 635/635R Lindell Hardware, Canaan, CT. 636 637/637R Route 113 at the Maine Coast Railroad crossing, Hiram, ME.★ 638 639 640 International wide-visions with straight side sills Along the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad at City Point, ME. 641 International wide-visions with straight side sills Reported moved from Canaan, CT to Greenville, ME. 642 International wide-visions with tabbed side sills Steel wide-vision caboose at the Boston & Maine Depot, Littleton, MA. Dave Erickson owner. 643 International wide-visions with tabbed side sills Cape Cod Central Railroad Enginehouse, Hyannis, MA. J. N. Flagg owner. 644 International wide-visions with tabbed side sills 380097 / 692929 The only MEC Caboose to wear Guilford colours. Steel wide-vision caboose at Depot Restaurant & Shops, Canaan, CT. Reported destined for Hyannis, MS. Atlas N Master International Extended-Vision Caboose? 645 International wide-visions with tabbed side sills 646 One of a kind, built from a boxcar 462634 /396599 /692687 Built from boxcar no. 4939 (a 1932 ARA 9ft 4in inside height, 40ft car from Magor Car Company, Lot P8750, delivered December 1936), this caboose was converted at the Waterville shops. It later worked on the Mountain Division, most often around Gilman and Whitefield, and was known as the Beecher Falls caboose. After its time at Beecher Falls, it moved between assignments until, in 1984/85, it was allocated to trains 324/325 out of Rockland at the request of the job’s conductor, G. R. “Dick” Frank. Today, it is preserved on the Grafton & Upton Railroad in Massachusetts. Reported moved from Canaan, CT to Greenville, ME. 647/647R Long home-built on express reefer trucks with vertical cupola sides New England Southern Yard, Concord, NH. Ex-Milford-Bennington. Burned and in poor condition. Moved from Lincoln, NH. 648/648R Long home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 676331 /647290 Blomberg B Trucks. Preserved as WP 1918 at the Freight House, Tilton, NH. 649R Long home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 674388 Reported moved from Canaan, CT to Greenville, ME. 650R Long home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 650R was originally numbered 656 but was renumbered in 1963 to make room for a new series of cabooses from I.C.C., 655-659. Reported moved from Canaan, CT to Greenville, ME. 651 International wide-visions with straight side sills Atlas 50 000 295 ★ RP 652 International wide-visions with straight side sills 653 International wide-visions with straight side sills http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec653.jpg ★ 654 International wide-visions with straight side sills Housatonic siding north of the station at Merwinsville (or Canaan), CT. 655 International Standard Cupola Depot Restaurant & Shops, Canaan, CT. Stored on Smedick siding. For sale.★ 656 International Standard Cupola City Point Railroad Museum, City Point, Maine★ Atlas 43018 ★ 657 International Standard Cupola Atlas 43111 ★ Atlas 43116 ★ 658 International Standard Cupola Depot Restaurant & Shops, east end of depot, Canaan, CT. Trackside Tacos in North Canaan, CT★ Atlas 43117 ★ 659 International Standard Cupola Freight House, Tilton, NH.★ Atlas 43019 ★ Atlas 50 005 606 ★ 660 Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style RRPA ex-WM 1878. Purchased in 1962. Now on display at the Cole Land Transportation Museum. Preserved as former WM 1878 at the Cole Transportation Museum, Bangor, ME. 661 Ex-Western Maryland Northeastern Style 308591 Ex-WM 1904. Built in 1940 by Union Bridge. Purchased in 1962. Acquired by the Danbury Railway Museum in 2000. Former WM 1904 stored on Smedick siding, Canaan, CT.★ 662 Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 674565 ex-WM 1804. Purchased in 1962. Kimball Oil, Great Barrington, MA, from Canaan, CT. Former WM 1804 at the Kimball Oil Company office, Great Barrington, MA. Moved from Canaan, CT. 663 Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 710270 /692936 ex-WM 1838. Purchased in 1962. David Ritz, Apalachin, NY. 664 Ex-Western Maryland Northeastern Style 730269 ex-WM 1837. Purchased in 1962.Former WM 1837 on Smedick siding, Canaan, CT. Burned. For sale. Depot Restaurant & Shops, Canaan, CT. Stored on Smedick siding. Reported gone. 670 International Wide Vision 183725 Stored on Smedick siding, Canaan, CT. Gregg Little owner (Pembroke Pines, FL). For sale.★ Atlas 30289 ★ 671 International Wide Vision 380097 /692929 Freight House, Tilton, NH. 672 International Wide Vision 540818 Delivered by the B&M to the Maine Central at Whitefield, NH during November 1981. The last buggy purchased by MEC generally ran on the Mountain Division before its transfer to the D&H. Now privately owned and operates on the Stourbridge Line in Honesdale, PA. Preserved as FBJX 672 at the Freight House, Tilton, NH.
Portland Terminal
Portland Terminal caboose No. 1 stands at South Portland, Maine, on 9 May 1984. Converted from a 40-foot Maine Central boxcar, the caboose served Portland Terminal’s switching operations and later found a second life as an ice cream stand in North Yarmouth, Maine. © Chuck Zeiler Portland Terminal caboose No. 2 is seen on the Deering Junction Local at Rigby Yard, South Portland, Maine, on 26 December 1963. Built by the Laconia Car Company in 1911 as Maine Central caboose No. 577, it was transferred to the Portland Terminal Company on 31 October 1963 and renumbered No. 2. Resheathed with plywood as part of its later life, the veteran caboose illustrates how older equipment was economically rebuilt to continue serving the busy Portland terminal district. © George Melvin Portland Terminal Company caboose No. 5 stands at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, during 1971. Carrying the simple reporting marks “P.T.Co.”, the caboose was part of the fleet used by Portland Terminal crews, who handled switching and transfer freight movements throughout the Portland terminal district on behalf of the Maine Central and Boston & Maine railroads. By this date, the car’s yellow paint had faded considerably, reflecting years of hard service in one of northern New England’s busiest rail hubs. © David S. Hutchinson Collection Belfast & Moosehead Lake
Belfast & Moosehead Lake caboose No. 28 is seen in bright red livery at Belfast, Maine, 17 August 1981. Built in January 1926, the car displays classic caboose construction with a cupola and steel underframe, typical of long-lived short line equipment. © Matt Herson Epilogue
The caboose was never just a car at the end of the train. For generations of railroaders, it was a workplace, a refuge, and a front-row seat on the life of the line. Maine Central’s “buggies” were no exception, a mixed fleet that spoke of adaptation, economy, and the hard work of keeping trains moving in New England conditions.
Today their outlines survive in photographs, in preserved examples, and in memory: the steady rhythm of wheels underfoot, the view from a cupola, the glow of red marker lamps dwindling into the dusk. Whether built of wood, steel, or something in between, they carried more than waybills and marker lights; they carried the human side of railroading.
