IC5785 Display Cairo Illinois

IC 5785 Display Cairo, IL

The old red caboose is at rest, IC5785 On Display Cairo Illinois. Illinois little slice of heaven located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. IC 5785 was originally built as IC 9501. After the merger with Gulf, Mobile and Ohio the caboose was renumbered as ICG 199501. We will point this information out again here shortly. The info can be obtained from the link we provided previously.

What is a “Caboose”?

Before we go to far lets discuss what exactly a caboose really is. The caboose has been called a few different things in the past such as cabooses (or cabeese) and traditionally it was called a way car. There is a general consensus that the word “Caboose” dates from the 18th century and most likely refers to the cookhouse on the deck of a ship. Some other notable names for this end of the train car was the shanty, buggy, chariot, crummy and shack.

Are all Cabeese The Same?

Not all cabeese or way cars as it were, are the same. There were a few variations of caboose. One of the most famous was called the Cupola or “standard” caboose. This is the typical caboose that we envision today when we think of a caboose.

This image provided to us by our friend Michelle Maria at Pixabay.

The invention of the cupola caboose is generally attributed to T. B. Watson, a freight conductor on the Chicago and North Western Railway. In 1898, he wrote:

During the ’60s I was a conductor on the C&NW. One day late in the summer of 1863 I received orders to give my caboose to the conductor of a construction train and take an empty boxcar to use as a caboose. This car happened to have a hole in the roof about two feet square. I stacked the lamp and tool boxes under the perforation end and sat with my head and shoulders above the roof … (Later) I suggested putting a box around the hole with glass in, so I could have a pilot house to sit in and watch the train.

Cohen, P. (n.d.). Steel cupola caboose from RMI Railworks Miniature Railroad Equipment. RMI Railworks. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.rmirailworks.com/steel_caboose.asp

Are there anymore styles?

There sure are! For more information on caboose styles, please visit this wiki. However, the one we are most interested in today is the one closest matching the Cupola and it is the Extended Vision! In the extended vision caboose, the sides of the cupola project beyond the side of the car body and now have windows on the sides of the cupola as well! The reason why is this style so important to us today is that IC 5785 is a Extended Vision caboose.

Standard Uses For a Caboose

The United States and Canada at one point in time had federal laws requiring caboose and full crew on freighters. This was purely a safety thing. The caboose originally (box cars converted) housed the crew to do many things such as operate hand brakes, look for hotboxes on the old style friction bearings and grease boxes, and as to protect the end of the train while it was stopped. A typical “way car” contained a desk, some form of heater (sometimes a wood stove), sleeping cots and the seats in a cupola.

The Great Decline

As the years rolled on, so did the caboose. We all loved to see the caboose at the end of the train. However, it’s days were officially numbered. As railroads investors demanded more profitability the companies made their claim that caboose were no longer needed. There were several reasons including the fact that new modern diesel locos had cabins large enough to hold the entire train’s crew. As well, trains were now being equipped with ETD (End of Train Device) as well as FRED (Flashing Rear End Device). As well, new regulations in the amount of hours in a day that crew could work put and end to needing a place to house crew for long trips.

Uses Today

So here we are today in 2022 nearing the end of another year. Cabeese, Cabooses, Shacks, way cars, shantys, crummys, chariots or shacks no matter what you prefer to call them are still being used today by railroads in some capacity for switching and shunting duties continuing their lives on the rail. Others live out their days refurbished as private residence, man caves, she sheds and more while other such as IC5785 / ICG 199501 are destined to live out their days on display avoiding the scrap yard.

Why Write about IC 5785?

There are a few reasons I chose to write about this old heap of steel. 1 fact is it is basically unvandalized in a living ghost town. Much like other abandoned vehicles in town, the glass and all in this caboose is all intact and not all full of graffiti. 2, it is IC numbered even though this is actually a ICG renumbered merger Caboose. 3, it is just a cool old caboose in decent shape and I happened to be here and saw it here.

So we will take one last look at the IC5785 display Cairo Illinois. Take a look as this old pile of steel rests peacefully on one section of display rail. If ever in town, come on in to the old historic down town and come on up to the flood wall past the Gem theater. You can’t miss it!

The fine Print

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