Forget calling our P&LE 518 just ‘some old caboose.’ This car is a railroad legend with a surprising talent for disguise! Need proof? Just look inside Dwight Jones’s definitive work, C&O/B&O Cabooses – Display and Private Owner Cars (Vol. 4). There it is, a veteran of the New York Central System, comfortably nestled among cabooses from rival line Baltimore & Ohio! This unexpected cameo perfectly captures why 518 is such a fascinating railroading character.
Its 1996 transformation into a B&O tribute, complete with that iconic Capitol Dome emblem, was its ticket to fame. Instead of slipping in among the various pages of classic B&O cabooses, 518 earned its own spotlight on a special page titled “Not on the Roster”. It’s a sort of hall of fame for cabooses that have been lovingly reborn as B&O tributes. And honestly, we couldn’t be prouder.
This recognition holds special weight because back in 2005, author Dwight Jones himself made the trip to Caboose Falls to photograph 518. Though it proudly served the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie, its striking B&O tribute paint scheme deserved to be shared. That scheme perfectly showcases the dedication of railfans like Edward Schleicher in honoring their favorite railroads.
Of course, this isn’t 518’s first book cameo. It was also in James T. Bradley’s Cabooses of North America Vol. 2 in its original NYC green livery and Cabins, Crummies, and Hacks. Seeing 518 appear in Jones’s book feels extra special.
So, to Dwight Jones: A big thank you! Your careful documentation means so much. You’re helping preserve not just the wood, metal, and paint of these special cars, but the incredible stories and passion they represent.
Do you have pictures of 518 before it became a B&O tribute? We’d absolutely love to see them! And if you have your own caboose story to share, or even own one yourself, please send us a note. We’d really enjoy hearing from you!