Bowie in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Bowie Caboose
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013
1. The Bowie Caboose Marker
Inscription.
The Bowie Caboose. . This is the former Norfolk and Western Railroad's CF Class Caboose #518-303. It was built at the N&W East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, in April 1922. The N&W did not serve Bowie but did enter Maryland at Hagerstown. After nearly fifty years of service she was retired to a scrap yard, but rescued, and given to the city of Bowie in 1972. She sat in Allen Pond Park, suffered a fire in the late70s, and was relocated to this museum in 2000, then restored on the exterior., It would appear that our caboose has a historic connection to the Bowie area and the Pope's Creek Railroad line running from Bowie to Southern Maryland. , While not conclusive, it is interesting that this is the same class caboose as the Bowie Railroad Station Museum's piece, and is very likely the Bowie Caboose after it saw active service on the N&W. By this era, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company controlled the Norfolk and Western. , Did You Know? , A caboose was the accustomed conclusion to any freight train and served many roles. It allowed crewmen to keep a lookout for how the freight cars were functioning as the train moved along. It provided a place for the crew working on a freight train to rest and eat. Also, lanterns call "marker lights" indicated the end of a passing train and served as a warning to approaching trains that came up the track. , The crew could sit and view the length of a freight train through the windows in the cupola, the raised viewing area on the roof. The interior of the caboose provided a toilet and washbasin, a coal stove for heat and cooking, two oil lamps for light, an ice box, and two sets of upper and lower bunks.
This is the former Norfolk and Western Railroad's CF Class Caboose #518-303. It was built at the N&W East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, in April 1922. The N&W did not serve Bowie but did enter Maryland at Hagerstown. After nearly fifty years of service she was retired to a scrap yard, but rescued, and given to the city of Bowie in 1972. She sat in Allen Pond Park, suffered a fire in the late70s, and was relocated to this museum in 2000, then restored on the exterior.
It would appear that our caboose has a historic connection to the Bowie area and the Pope's Creek Railroad line running from Bowie to Southern Maryland.
While not conclusive, it is interesting that this is the same class caboose as the Bowie Railroad Station Museum's piece, and is very likely the Bowie Caboose after it saw active service on the N&W. By this era, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company controlled the Norfolk and Western.
Did You Know?
A caboose was the accustomed conclusion to any freight train and served many roles. It allowed crewmen to keep a lookout for how the freight cars were functioning as the train moved along. It provided a place for the crew working on a freight train to rest and eat. Also, lanterns call "marker lights" indicated the end of a passing train and served as a warning to approaching trains
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that came up the track.
The crew could sit and view the length of a freight train through the windows in the cupola, the raised viewing area on the roof. The interior of the caboose provided a toilet and washbasin, a coal stove for heat and cooking, two oil lamps for light, an ice box, and two sets of upper and lower bunks.
Erected by Olde Town Bowie.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1922.
Location. 39° 0.439′ N, 76° 46.75′ W. Marker is in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is on Chestnut Avenue just north of 11th Street (Maryland Route 564). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bowie MD 20715, United States of America. Touch for directions.
This photograph appeared in Trains and Travel Magazine, March 1953, and shows a Norfolk & Western caboose just south of Bowie on the Navy wye located off the Pope's Creek line of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Detail of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013
4. Caboose at Allen Pond Park
Detail of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013
5. Caboose fire damage before restoration
Close-up of photo from a display inside the Caboose
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, April 21, 2013
6. The Bowie Caboose
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 574 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 18, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.