| Due to a stretch of nice weather, the painting and restoration of this caboose in Connellsville has been going very smoothly. Eventually , the stenciling of the letters and numbers will be added by the Connellsville HObo model railroad club. I'm told the B&O logo stencils are being lent to them by the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. The poles on the top are for a welcome center sign to be installed. Sanding, rust repair, and primer on this caboose was done courtesy of the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center students. Then the students painted it B&O red, assisted by Vern Ohler of the Connellsville Street Department. Local CSX roadmaster Gerry Gable donated the spikes, ties, and railplates. CSX employee Shawn Lowery helped with building the rails. Local business Painters choice donated paint, primer, and body filler. Stone and Company donated wood for the interior, which is being refinished by local retired carpenter Dave Stupka and his son Dave Jr. Local artists Laura Koposko and Jessica Lotman will be painting signs and murals to be hung on the caboose. The caboose is at the former site of a P&LE rail yard. Now its next to the Youghiogheny River Trail-Great Allegheny Passage. According to research this was built at a B&O railyard in Indiana in July 1956. It is a Class I-17A bay-window caboose. Built as B&O C2891. Later when the Chessie System gained control of the B&O, the number on this became 902891. Owned by the City of Connellsville, it will be leased to the Youghiogheny River Trail Council. Trail Town Outreach Corps member Emma Strong is credited with coming up with the original idea for this project. |