Former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad caboose C-2019 was rededicated on Thursday, September 26th at 1:30 PM! The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum's staff has been working on the restoration, both inside and out, of the I-5 type caboose since its relocation in April of 2000, and it is now ready to unveil! Below, we've added some new photos from the ribbon cutting!
The Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum is now the permanent home of former
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad caboose C-2019. We have undertaken its restoration,care and
upkeep as a permanent memorial to the great influence that the mighty B & O had on the
early days of Wheeling, when it proudly held its title of "Gateway to the West".
This particular caboose is an I-5 style caboose that was built by the B&O in 1926.
Formerly, this caboose resided on the Wheeling, West Virginia waterfront, and was used as
an information and ticket booth. The museum purchased the caboose in April of 2000, and
moved it to its current location. On this page, you can see some of the history of this
railroad workhorse, along with both of its previous relocations and its current state,
restored to its former glory! When you stop by to tour the Kruger Street Toy & Train
Museum, say hello to this champion of the rails! Or for even more fun, why not attend the Wheeling Caboose Day, held in April each year, and help us celebrate Wheeling's railroad heritage!
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The Kruger Street Caboose is featured in "The Sentinel" magazine!
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The former Baltimore & Ohio caboose #C-2019, which resides at the museum, was featured in the Second Quarter 2003 issue of "The Sentinel", the official publication of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society. The article "Two that Escaped the Scrapper", featured both our own C2019, and another former B & O caboose currently operated by West Virginia's own Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. |
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The Kruger Street Caboose is featured in a new book!
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The former Baltimore & Ohio I-5 style
caboose #C-2019, which resides at the museum, was featured in a newly released book by
renowned caboose historian and author Dwight Jones. The book, "Cabooses: Display and
Private Owner Cars", features former Baltimore & Ohio and Chesapeake & Ohio
cabooses which are now in private hands. C-2019 is featured in a series of photos
depicting its move from the Wheeling waterfront to the museum in April of 2000. |
If you want to purchase a copy of the book (it costs $15.95 plus
$3.05 shipping), contact the author at:
Dwight Jones
536 Clairbrook Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43228-2539
Or you can email Dwight at csxcabooses@msn.com |
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The Restored Wheeling Caboose is Dedicated: September 26, 2002 |
Newly painted Baltimore & Ohio caboose C2019, as seen from the museum parking lot. |
The car ends are also again sporting the correct numbering for this car. |
A view of the caboose from across the street. This is believed to be the ONLY former B&O caboose in the nation that has been restored to this yellow 1970's paint scheme! |
The ribbon is cut on September 22. From left to right: Michael Hooper (Elm Grove Business Assn.), Leona Miller (Eibel Corp.), Allan Robert Miller (Eibel Corp.), Barry Crow (Wheeling City Councilman for Elm Grove), Allan Raymond Miller (Curator- Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum), Terry Sterling (Wheeling Chamber of Commerce), Tammi Weishar (Wheeling Chamber of Commerce) |
The caboose looks good enough to eat: the cake from the dedication party for C2019. |
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The "Wheeling Caboose" Moves to its New Home in April of 2000 |
The "Wheeling Caboose" as it has come to be known, was
moved to the museum property on April 5, 2000. |
The running gear had to be transported seperate from the caboose
body. In its entirety, the caboose weighs in at an impressive 62,500 pounds! |
The caboose got more than a few second looks as it traveled along
the highway to its new home! |
The caboose arrives at the museum, ready to be installed in its
new home, where it will be enjoyed by generations of area residents! |
The Millers pose with their latest museum acquisition. Now comes
the hard part - refurbishing and restoring this impressive railroad artifact! That process
will occur over the next few years. |
Here, the crane returns the caboose body to the trucks, now at its
new home. |
Don Miller, of Miller Transfer Co. of Wheeling, can smile now that
the move was completed without incident. |
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Ancient History: City of Wheeling Receives C-2019 in 1980
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C-2019 comes to the City of Wheeling from the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad in 1980, after decades of faithful, and apparently hard, service. |
A Savage Construction crane lowers C-2019 into place on the
waterfront. |
The caboose is gently eased onto the rails that will be its new
home |
The crew removes the chains, and C-2019 begins its new life. |
The reconstruction, complete with all new exterior wood, begins. |
Putting final touches on the body work. |
Donning a fresh coat of paint, C-2019 looks almost good as new.
After these photos were taken, the car was relettered and restencilled with B&O logos. Technically, they were not the correct logos for this car! |
To contact us with a comment or question, why not email us!museum@ToyAndTrain.com .
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