Caboose

 

  
 

Caboose History
Cabooses of the Norfolk and Western
Class CH
#518406 through 518425


The CH class of all-steel cabooses was built by the East End Shops of the Norfolk and Western Railway in Roanoke, VA.  This class of 20 cabooses was built at a cost of $4,361.00 each.

These cabooses were built with two windows on each end, which was a departure from the previous CF and CG classes.  The end doors were 1-3/4” yellow pine, with a window.  The cupola was off-centered 14-1/2” from the center line of the caboose and away from the smokejack.  The cupola sides were integral to the main cabin sides.  The cupola had two windows on each side, and on the “A” end and “B” end.  The lavatory side of the caboose had the standard N&W arrangement of three windows, with the small window indicating the location of the lavatory in the cabin.  The opposite side had two windows.  A tool box was mounted on the underframe with its center line 10” off the center line of the caboose side and away from the smokejack

All CH class cabooses were equipped with a Duryea cushion underframe with 10-1/2” travel and draft gear.  The center sill was 15”, 33.9 lb./ft. steel channel.  The coupler was top-operated AAR type E60CHT.

These cabooses rode on N&W class T65 swing motion trucks.  The truck journal size was 4-1/4” x 8” and was of plain bearing design.  Spring travel was 3-1/2”.  Wheels were 33” diameter, each truck weighed 7,160 lbs.  The Duryea cushion underframe and draft gear with swing motion trucks provided a reasonable ride.

The brake valve was AB type, and the cylinder was AB-1012.  The brake beams were hanger design,  Creco Type 2.  The brake shoes were made of cast iron.

The cabin car weight was 55,000 lbs.  They measured 34’7-1/2” coupled length, and 32’4” over strikers.  These cars measured 15’0” in height from top of rail to top of smokejack, 10’6-5/8” wide from steps to steps, and were Plate B clearance.  They were equipped with platform ladders and running boards.

Located in the “B” end of the cabin was a coal stove which was provided for heating and cooking.  Lighting was provided by two (2) Aladdin oil lamps No. 23000.  Also located in the “B” end were the refrigerator that was ice supplied only for cooling, and a 30-gallon overhead water tank for domestic water.  The interior floor was 13/16” tongue and groove yellow pine over a 1-5/16” subflooring.  The interior lining on the sides was 13/16” tongue and groove, while the end lining was .11” steel.  A battery was provided for powering the radio and, later, for powering the FRA marker lights.  The cupola contained two single fixed seats on each side, facing opposite each other and adjacent to the cupola windows. 

Originally, two (2) sets of upper and lower bunks were provided at the “B” end, while one set of upper and lower bunks was provided at the “A” end, on the same side as the lavatory.  During 1969 and 1970, these cabooses were bumped from road assignments to local service. The bunks on the lavatory side in the “B” end were removed, as were the other upper bunks, and the lavatory was relocated to this position.  This left one (1) bunk at opposite corners.  The original lavatory contained a toilet seat, and a wash basin was provided in the cabin opposite the lavatory.  When the lavatory was relocated, the wash basin remained.  However, the relocated lavatory contained a toilet seat, urinal and wash basin.  A locker was installed in the original lavatory position.

When these cars were modernized, rock guards were added to the cupola side windows and the body side windows at the bunks.  The toilet and cupola end windows were glazed with polycarbonate. 

The cars were placed in general service system-wide on the N&W, where they remained until the delivery of the C319P cabooses in 1968 and 1969; after that, they were downgraded to local service and coal mine runs.  This class of caboose was delivered in solid red with white lettering and numbering, with brown roof.  Through the years they were also repainted blue with yellow lettering.  Some of the CH class even made it into the all-red with large white “NW” scheme.

During 1981 to 1982, #518408, 518409, 518410, 518411, 518412, 518413, 518417, 518418, 518420, and 518423 were modified with a liquid propane storage tank and heater to replace the coal stove.  For reasons unknown, #518419 was stored at Princeton, WV, from 4-75 to 12-81.  The paint scheme during this long-term storage was blue with yellow lettering.  None of the CH class cabooses was ever sold to other railroads.

Built dates shown are taken from official N&W records.  The cabs carried a wide range of built dates stenciled on the data plates from 1-40 to 9-40.


N&W # 518420 was built April, 1940.  In May, 1989 it was donated to the NRHS Scioto Valley Chapter in Ohio and used as a Visitors’ Center in Portsmouth, Ohio.

1"Cabooses of the Norfolk & Western" by Robert Bowers and James Brewer