Coastal Museums Association Stay connected with the Coastal Heritage Society!   HOME > RAILROAD OPERATIONS > ROLLING STOCK WHO WE ARE HISTORY MEMBERSHIP > LEVELS & BENEFITS JOIN NOW RENEW MEMBERSHIP EVENTS PRESS ROOM CAREERS STAFF DIRECTORY THE SAVANNAH HISTORY EXPERIENCE > BATTLEFIELD PARK ROUNDHOUSE RAILROAD MUSEUM SAVANNAH HISTORY MUSEUM OLD FORT JACKSON > OLD FORT JACKSON HISTORY FUTURE SITES > CHILDREN'S MUSEUM C.S.S. GEORGIA TOURS NEWS UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ADMISSION DINING GROUP RATES MAPS & DIRECTIONS > OLD FORT JACKSON DIRECTIONS TOURS EDUCATOR'S GUIDE FIELD TRIPS HOME SCHOOL SCOUTS CHILDREN'S CAMPS FAMILY EVENTS OVERVIEW BIRTHDAYS > BIRTHDAY BATTALION COLONIAL TIMES PARTY FANCY TEA PARTY LITTLE ENGINEER CLIENT LIST CORPORATE EVENTS WEDDINGS VOLUNTEER SPONSORSHIP & DONATIONS > WISHLIST WAYS TO GIVE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS OUR TEAM PRESERVATION REPORT ARCHAEOLOGY > FAQ GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS COLLECTIONS > EXHIBITS ARTYFACTS SAVE OUR TREASURES OUR TEAM ROLLING STOCK > ENGINES CARS CABOOSES CABOOSES Central of Georgia X-10 Caboose This caboose was built in the Macon shops sometime between 1922 and 1940 and is a standard design for the Central of Georgia. The Central began building new wooden cupola cabooses at the Macon Shops in 1922, utilizing new steel underframes. These cabooses were later referred to as short cabooses because of their 27'1" inside body length. It operated for a time on the Central and then on the Wrightsville & Tennille RR until its retirement in 1968. Contrary to popular opinion, the caboose was not a place for crewmen to sleep. In fact, the caboose served as the "office" for the freight train. It was here that the conductor maintained the list of cars in the train as well as other important information. Most conductors were fastidious individuals and their cabooses reflected that. It was a source of pride to have a clean caboose. The role of the conductor has shifted in recent years with the increased use of technology. Computers help maintain the list of cars and the conductor rides in the locomotive cab, relegating the caboose to near extinction. Donated by Mrs. Dottie Johnson Atlantic Coast Line M-5 Caboose Despite their popularity as an icon of railroading to many, cabooses have largely disappeared from mainline train service. Advances in technology changed the duties of the crewmen aboard the caboose. The brakeman would sit in the cupola and watch the train for any problems. One common problem was the "hot box," which occurred when the packing materials in a wheels journal box would ignite and start to smoke. The smoke alerted the brakeman that the axle was overheating and the train would be stopped to correct the problem. When railroads started using roller bearings for the wheels, the role of the brakeman was diminished. Soon the caboose was replaced with an electronic End-of-train Device or F.R.E.D. (Flashing Rear End Detector), which could monitor the air pressure of the break system and the wheels. The use of electronic devices meant the caboose no longer was the "grand finale" for train watchers. Donated by Marilyn Gracious. Southern X791 Sidebay Caboose Most Southern Railway cabooses that were used throughout the Southeast were made of steel with bay windows. All of these cabooses looked very similar with several distinctive features: a brake wheel stand extending from the floor of the end platform to the roof of the caboose, end hand rails looped at the bottom to form a hand hold for people climbing up onto the end platform, flat platform steps that extend to the edge of the car and attached beneath the end platform and most have a generator on one side of the caboose to generate electricity. By the mid 1960s, the Central of Georgia's caboose fleet began to deteriorate due to mishandling by various train crews and a lack of regular maintenance. With the bad order cars removed from service and serviceable cabooses often inadvertently sent off, it became evident that the Central did not have enough cabooses. So, in 1966, fifteen Southern Railway steel bay window cabooses, similar to this one, were assigned to the Central. The Southern had purchased the Central of Georgia in 1963 Despite their popularity as an icon of railroading to many, cabooses have largely disappeared from mainline train service. Advances in technology changed the duties of the crewmen aboard the caboose. The caboose was replaced with an electronic End-of-train Device or F.R.E.D. (Flashing Rear End Detector), which could monitor the air pressure of the break system and the wheels. The use of electronic devices meant the caboose no longer was the "grand finale" for train watchers.

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