Conrail SD40-2 No. 6479 is on the point of a westbound on the former Erie Lackawanna in Akron on May 3, 1980. Above the second unit is the light tower for the EL’s McCoy Street Yard.
At the same time an eastbound Chessie System freight with a caboose has just passed the 6479.
Note the former EL boxcar behind the motive power. The bridge in the background is Thornton Street. Today there are just two tracks at this location near Voris Street.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
Western Maryland 5956 is in Massillon on June 11, 1978. Note that by now it is wearing Chessie system colors. It is parked in front of the long-ago removed ex-Baltimore & Ohio freight house along with a caboose.
Photograph by Robert Farkas
One a common sight, cabooses have largely been relegated to museums and working on some local trains for use as shoving platforms.
Today we pay tribute to the caboose with a pair of images, In the top photo, Huntingdon & Broad Top No. 16 is on display on the Everett tourist railroad in Everett, Pennsylvania. The image was made sometime between 1969 and 1971.
In the bottom image, Chessie System No. 902851 sits in Warwick in April 1983. This car is of Baltimore & Oho heritage.
This Chessie System caboose was more than a place for the crew to conduct business. It also carried a reminder to them to work safely. The image was made in Akron on Sept. 9, 1970. The heritage of this car is Baltimore & Ohio.
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