| By: | Ron Chouinard |
| Dates: | 3/27/2008 - 3/27/2008 |
| Album Info: | The Providence and Worcester bay window caboose 2116/5001, acquired in January 1985. Class N7-E built in 1969 for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad as their C-369. During Conrail, the caboose was assigned number 21169. When acquired by the Providence and Worcester, renumbered as their 2116 by dropping the 9. Up till the early 90's, cabooses were required by Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor and the 2116 was primarily used by train PR-3. When cabooses became obsolete on Amtrak, the 2116 was kept inside the Valley Falls engine house over by People Coal until returned to Worcester. There the 2116 received the Providence and Worcester red paint scheme and renumbered to 5001. Later around April 1992, spending time in Brunswick, Maine for possible use by Atlas Railroad Construction with a fiberoptic work train. In the late 90's it was assigned to the Belle Dock/New Haven area. Late 2005, the caboose was refurbished at the Plainfield Shops where a handsome dark maroon scheme unlike the traditional Providence and Worcester brown was applied, and the ghetto guards and plated over windows removed. Based at Middletown, Connecticut for use on the "Poo Poo" train that ran for the Middletown Sewer Department. Now again based in Valley Falls, its used on PR-2 when only one loco is available. The caboose features a strobe warning light, electric interior lighting and headlights, a horn with kerosene heat. |
