Fiddlers Grove Historic Village in Lebanon in Wilson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Train Caboose

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 8, 2024

1. Train Caboose Marker

Inscription. In the "heyday" of railroads, the caboose served many functions for the train crew. It served as their office, restroom, sleeping quarters, and sometimes the kitchen. The office area contained the shipping papers called manifest which detailed what was on board each rail car and where it was to be dropped. The elevated seating area allowed the brakeman or other crew members a birds eye view of the train ahead. The red brake valve was close at hand for quick action in the event of an emergency. The restroom is equipped with a pressurized water tank but as you may notice the caboose, which was built long before environmental concerns, has no waste holding tank! A generator pulled by a belt to the axles provided power for the multi purpose caboose. The age of computers for tracking loads and the reduction in the size of train crews brought an end to the service of most cabooses.

The caboose was moved to Fiddlers Grove with the assistance of the Nashville & Eastern Railroad and McCord Crane Service in the spring of 2007. The crane made its way by truck along the bypass under the escort of the Wilson County Sheriff's Department

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and the Lebanon Police Department to its present location where it stands as a proud reminder of the Golden Age of Railroads.

The train caboose was given to J. D. and Ann Floyd by the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile. Ala.

J. D. and Ann Floyd donated the caboose to Fiddlers Grove in memory of Billy Baxter in 2007.

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

Location. 36° 11.817′ N, 86° 16.188′ W. Marker is in Lebanon, Tennessee, in Wilson County. It is in Fiddlers Grove Historic Village. It can be reached from East Baddour Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lebanon TN 37087, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the

Photographed by Kevin W., June 17, 2024

2. Train Caboose Marker

Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tuckers Gap Depot (here, next to this marker); Tates Crossing Flag Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Melrose Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Glen Hightower Telephone Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Fiddlers Grove Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Mr. Luther's Blacksmith Shop and Broom Factory (within shouting distance of this marker); Doris Bland Pavillion (within shouting distance of this marker); Pete Smith Store (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lebanon.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 8, 2024

3. Train Caboose Marker

Train Caboose and Tuckers Gap Depot Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., June 17, 2024

4. Train Caboose and Tuckers Gap Depot Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 4. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.