The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — The Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society has taken delivery of its latest piece of full-size historic railroad equipment.
Through a donation from CSX Corporation, the Heri-tage Center has received steel caboose number 903572 that was last based at CSX’s Quinnimont, W.Va., terminal.
The caboose was built in 1941 by Magor Car Com-pany 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, which will include receiving new paint. It 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 and 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.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit corporation dedicated to interpreting the American railway experience,
