Conrail Caboose 19189, circa 1916–1923
Builder: Pennsylvania Railroad Altoona Car Shops (Altoona, Pennsylvania)
Type: Steel cupola caboose (Class N5)
Classification: PRR Class N5; AAR Type NE (caboose); later carried Conrail class N5
Original Owner: Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
The PRR introduced the N5 class in 1914 as the industry’s first all-steel caboose design, a major advancement in safety and durability over earlier wooden cars. Built at the railroad’s own Altoona shops, these cars featured riveted steel construction, a distinctive cupola for crew observation, and standardized interiors for long-haul freight service. Caboose 477600 entered service on the PRR’s extensive Eastern network, typically assigned to freight trains where it provided a mobile office and living quarters for the conductor and brakemen. It saw decades of reliable service under PRR operations.
Service Life and Retirement
In the 1968 Penn Central merger, the caboose was renumbered to PC 19189 and continued in freight service. Upon Conrail’s formation in 1976, it became CR 19189 and was classified as an N5 (one of many inherited ex-PRR N5 series cars). It remained in active use through the 1980s, primarily on Conrail freight trains in the Midwest and Northeast.
By the mid-1980s, Conrail was phasing out traditional cabooses in favor of end-of-train devices. CR 19189 was retired from revenue service and, along with other surplus equipment, offered for sale or donation. In November 1986 it was photographed at the NS/TLE&W interchange in Waterville, Ohio where it was acquired by the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum (TLE&W) from Conrail in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Current Preservation at TLEW
Caboose 19189 is in the North Yard in Grand Rapids, Ohio (part of the museum’s static display collection). 19189 is in the queue for rehabilitation as part of TLE&W’s 5-year plan. It will receive structural repairs, cosmetic restoration, and interior work to return it to a display-ready condition. It remains a tangible link to PRR, Penn Central, and Conrail history in northwest Ohio.
Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pennsylvania Railroad Altoona Car Shops |
| Built | circa 1916–1923 (N5 class production era) |
| Original Number | PRR 477600 |
| Intermediate Numbers | Penn Central 19189 |
| Final Revenue Number | Conrail 19189 |
| Class | PRR N5 (Conrail N5) |
| AAR Type | NE (Caboose) |
| Construction | All-steel riveted body, cupola style |
| Length | Standard N5 dimensions (approx. 30–32 ft) |
| Weight | Approx. 50,000–55,000 lbs (typical for N5) |
| Trucks | Plain-bearing, leaf-spring caboose trucks |
| Current Location | North yard, Grand Rapids, Ohio |
| Status | Static display; queued for rehabilitation in TLE&W 5-year plan |
Collection Details
Preserved in the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum outdoor collection
Accession: N/A | Acquired: N/A | Status: On Display