Few things are 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—which now resides at Caboose Falls—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—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—even about 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.