The Connecticut Trolley Museum has a chance to save an old/unusual caboose. This unique piece of history is located in Mansfield, Connecticut along the New England Central Railroad Mainline. After its service on the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, it was brought to Mansfield Depot. Here, it was parked on a stub track, where it served as an addition to the Mansfield Depot Restaurant. The 80 year old depot burned down in July 2003. The caboose survived damage from the fire. This car is of wooden construction and is much older than our current Reading Railroad caboose. The caboose interior is no longer original, and has been gutted and fitted with variable seating/tables to accommodate dining.
While not being completely original, this caboose can be used like our dining car. Its planed use is for birthday parties/special events. This would be a valued asset to our museum. The outside can be restored to its original Bangor & Aroostook Railroad heritage.
The caboose is available to us as a donation and we need to raise money to transport it. It is our hope to make the move this summer/fall. We are estimating $2500 for moving costs. The museum would be greatly appreciative of any donations that could be raised to help fund this move. This is a realistic goal that we can accomplish.
Please help us in the endeavor. No contribution is too small!
Donations can be mailed to: Connecticut Trolley Museum, BAR Mansfield Depot Caboose Fund, PO Box 360, East Windsor, CT 06088 or made by credit card over the phone by calling 860.627.6540.
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