Rivanna Chapter, NRHS May Meeting

NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Rivanna Chapter

Charlottesville, Virginia

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

Cabin Car 477768

Former PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD Cabin Car (PRR term for caboose) #477768 has been acquired for restoration and use by the Rivanna Chapter.

This cabin was built in July 1941, likely at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Car Shops near Altoona, PA. It is a model N5B, based on the 1914 N5 design of Lines East. In 1937, many N5's were rebuilt as N5A's, featuring a Duryea spring cushion underframe, AB brake system and Ajax brake wheels. The N5B's were built new starting in 1941 and were very similar to the N5A, except that the handrails on the ends extended higher and the windows were somewhat narrower.

In May 1957, PRR 477768 was assigned to the Pittsburgh Region and was assigned to Altoona - Enola (Harrisburg, PA) Crew 225. However, 477768 was also assigned to the Eastern Region at some point in its career. With the Penn Central merger of 1968, the caboose was renumbered as 22966 and maintained the same number upon the formation of ConRail. The caboose was last used in active service on shortline Knox and Kane Railroad in Marienville, PA. The Rivanna Chapter acquired the car in the Spring of 2006.

2007 Year End Report

A 2007 year end report on the restoration of PRR 477768 cabin car in Charlottesville. Our efforts this year have been mostly focused on the exterior. We have (a) cut away the lower 3 ft. of steel sheathing for the entire length of one side to get at some serious rust (see picture) and welded and riveted in new steel; (b) finished sandblasting almost all of the exterior which we have primed and given two coats of acrylic roofing paint; (c) replaced 5 of the clouded plastic windows with clear lexan (provided at a heavily discounted price from Charlottesville Glass and Mirror); and (d) begun the "Pennsylvania" lettering on both sides to match a photo of the caboose taken in earlier days. (See photos).

Unfortunately the lettering, which is being done gratis by Ed Birkhead of Birkhead Signs, had to be repeatedly delayed until the last warm day in early November. We ran out of time. All the stencils have been cut and the job will be completed the first warm day of spring.

In August 2007, we were awarded a restoration grant from the national NRHS. $2,500 probably won't quite complete the restoration, but it certainly will go a long way. More importantly, it signals the importance of our project.

In the interior we have just begun to strip off old paint (there are many layers and colors) and to replace failing floor boards. More importantly, we have purchased an
authentic coal fired stove (with cast PRR logo on top). It replaced the oil fired ConRail version. The stove had been in a PA hunting camp.

We are looking forward to completing the restoration in the coming year and are excited as we see our dream of a "mobile museum" to celebrate all railroading, but especially PRR railroading, finally coming to fruition.

Please use your browser's Back Button to return to the Rivanna Chapter homepage.

Updated December 14, 2007