Wood Cabooses

[Mike Kieran]

I was asked by someone when the last wood cabooses were used in North America and my guess was the late 1960s or early 1970s. I really had no answer and now I’m curious. When were the last ones in service?

[e-paw]

Well I can tell you that the CNJ had wooden cabooses in service right to the end. Although none had been allowed to be used in mainline service, or helper districts. Only on branch lines with speed restrictions or in switching districts. I do not believe that any made it into service with Conrail. The last twenty or so years on the central were more like a rolling museum than a class one railroad. Hope that helps.

[Brakie]

In Columbus(Oh) the PRR was using N6Bs as late as '69 on transfer runs and urban locals and the C&O was still using wood caboose in the late 60s on transfer and urban locals. When I went to work on the Chessie in '78 the C&O woodies was gone.