Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Our Caboose Turns 80 Next Month


Great article by Mike Wennin

Next month our Caboose, a Pennsylvania Railroad N5c Cabin Car, will celebrate it's 80th birthday. It was built in March of 1942 in the shops at Altoona. It was one of the first of only 199 built. When the N5c was first introduced in 1942, streamlining was in vogue. The N5c was designed to blend esthetically with the PRR's famous streamlined T1 Duplex steam locomotives. The N5c cabin cars featured pairs of portholes in place of conventional rectangular windows... additional portholes were found on the car ends as well. The cupola had a sleek, aerodynamic profile that enhanced the streamstyled effect. In 1953, toy train manufacturer Lionel Trains gave the Pennsy's unique caboose the ultimate compliment by manufacturing it in model form. For Christmas 1953, Lionel introduced its No. 6417 caboose in a close-to-full quarter-inch scale reproduction of the N5c, complete with portholes, streamlined cupola and a realistic paint scheme. That popular Lionel model has been in production ever since... a testament to the PRR cabin car's enduring popularity 

 To learn more about the Cameron County Historical Society please visit their Facebook page or website. 
The Research Center 
 125 Greenwood Street 
 Emporium, PA. 15834 
 Open Year-Around Tuesdays 10-12:30PM
 Or schedule an appointment. 
 Phone: 814-486-0334

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