There aren’t a lot of things as thrilling as uncovering a long-lost piece of history, especially when it involves one of the cars here at Caboose Falls. Thanks to railfan and super-sleuth Robert Bogie, we now have a remarkable addition to our archive: an image of Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE) Caboose #518 in its original configuration and second paint scheme!
Why This Photo Matters
Until now, every known image of P&LE #518 showed the caboose with its side windows covered by steel plates (two per side). This was a common practice among railroads, including the P&LE, to comply with Federal Railroad Administration safety rules mandating shatter-resistant (bullet-proof) window glazing. Rather than incur the cost of replacing the original glass, many railroads simply plated over non-essential windows.
The photo changes that, revealing the caboose as it once was: fully windowed, without steel plates obscuring its original design.
But there was even more to discover in this photo. The image also shows #518 wearing a gleaming coat of New York Central Century Green. Quite a contrast to what we previously understood. Until now, we believed the car had only worn the later Penn Central Jade Green. This discovery rewrites the timeline: New York Central Red → Century Green → Jade Green → P&LE Yellow → B&O Blue.
A Window into the Past (Literally!)
This discovery reminds us how much we still have to learn about the equipment in our care. If you have photos, stories, or details about P&LE #518 or any of our other cabooses, we’d love to hear from you!
In the meantime, a special thank-you to Robert for helping us track down this image. Finds like this keep railroad heritage alive, and deepen our appreciation for #518’s remarkable journey.