Do any of you have any historical information on Caboose #359, a red wooden caboose with a cupola, with yellow lettering on the sides that said Norfolk & Southern? I am pretty sure it was before the new N&S time. It ended its track life in Durham, North Carolina, and was used off the tracks as a mail office, and the wheels were removed. I am especially trying to discover its age, and any history about its 'living years' on the tracks, where it used to travel, who rode in it, and what engines pulled it, etc. Thanks! Ann

-- ann gordon (afgordon@mindspring.com), August 16, 2002

Answers

Ann:

I can answer one of your questions about NS 359. From old NS records, I found that caboose cars 359 and 360 were built at New Bern shops, March 16, 1929, under AFE (Authority For Expenditure) 3063. Cost was $1750 each. It's possible that these two cabooses were used on the NC State owned Atlantic & North Carolina RR,leased by the NS, between Goldsboro and Morehead City/Beaufort. The NS defaulted on it's lease during the depression and the State took the A&NC back in 1935. Evidentially, the cabooses then went somewhere else on the NS. As a matter of fact, caboose 360 was destroyed by fire at Marsden, NC (Chocowinity) on Marach 1, 1937. The records I am quoting ended in December 1939. There are others that are orgainized that might shed more light on the 359. I live in Durham now, but came here in 1988. In previous years I saw the old caboose at NS's Keene Yard near Cornwallis Road and Fayetteville Street, but by then no markings remained, or I don't remember seeing any. I assume that this is the one you are writing about. It would be impossible to find any informations about which engines pulled it, or who rode in it, unless there would be reports in private hands about accidents involing the train that had the 359.

-- J. Marvin Black (sr6100diesel@bigfoot.com), September 29, 2002.

Marvin: I sent a sheaf of information on the original Norfolk Southern to "Pantego" Jones. He wrote back and said he appreciated it very much. I picked up the phone and called him one night, and we must have talked 45 minutes or an hour. Incidentally, the Norfolk & Southern Historical Society has now made available some caps with the old Norfolk Southern scroll logo on the front of them. I have waited many years for a cap like that. I ordered 4 caps, 2 each of two designs. I want you to join our group and volunteer to become the diesel editor. I have already volunteered to become steam editor as I grew up around NS steam. THe dues are a modest $ 15.00 per year. You would be a valuable asset to our group. Bill Sellers.

-- William A. Sellers, Jr. (was2nd@charter.net), October 10, 2002.