Valley City in Barnes County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Caboose

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2022

1. Caboose Marker

Inscription.
Caboose BN11603 retired from Alliance, Nebraska and was donated to the Valley City Park District in 1989 by the Burlington Northern Railroad. A caboose though seldom used today, was used to protect the rear of the train, provide shelter and an easy exit for the crew to control switches. The upper windows were for observing the train underway — for shifting loads or equipment failures. The conductor kept official records from the caboose desk, and on longer trips, the crew could board in the caboose — it included a stove for heat and cooking, a bathroom, and sofa-like sleeping bunks. This caboose was renovated and painted in Northern Pacific colors in 1992.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 46° 55.424′ N, 98° 0.312′ W. Marker is in Valley City, North Dakota, in Barnes County. Marker can be reached from West Main Street (Business U.S. 10/52) 0.1 miles west of Central Avenue North (County Highway 21), on the right when traveling west. The marker and caboose are located on the Rosebud Visitor Center grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 West Main Street, Valley City ND 58072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rosebud Visitor Center Along the Byway (within shouting distance of this marker); Footbridge to Fun

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Valley City Street & Interurban Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood Beam (within shouting distance of this marker); Rail Lines (within shouting distance of this marker); 66 Lb. Rail (within shouting distance of this marker); 90 Lb. Rail (within shouting distance of this marker); 136 Lb. Rail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley City.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Rosebud Visitor Center Railroad History Exhibit

Also see . . .
1. Caboose (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Cabooses were used on every freight train in the United States and Canada until the 1980s, when safety laws requiring the presence of cabooses and full crews were relaxed. A major purpose of the caboose was for observing problems at the rear of the train before they caused trouble. Lineside defect detectors and end-of-train devices eliminated much of this need. Nowadays, cabooses are generally only used
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2022

2. Caboose Marker
The marker is mounted at ground-level beside the caboose.
on rail maintenance or hazardous materials trains, as a platform for crew on industrial spur lines when it is required to make long reverse movements, or on heritage and tourist railroads.

(Submitted on March 9, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Moving the Northern Pacific Caboose (Barnes County Historical Society).

Moving the old NP Caboose from NP Park to the Rosebud Visitors Center 1/26/2000. (YouTube Video)

(Submitted on March 9, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Burlington Northern Caboose № 11603 / Northern Pacific Caboose № 1919 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2022

3. Burlington Northern Caboose № 11603 / Northern Pacific Caboose № 1919

Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 46 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 9, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.