Tennessee Cabooses - Cabooses by the Numbers

Tennessee Cabooses

HOW MANY?

WHERE ARE THEY?

WHO OWNS THEM?

HOW MANY?

How many stationary cabooses are in Tennessee? There are at least 124. There are probably a few more which I have not yet found.

How many cities and towns in Tennessee have a stationary caboose? At least 95, in 60 counties across Tennessee.

How many stationary cabooses are in the countryside, a town or a city in TN? 28 are in the countryside, 69 in a town and 27 in a city.

How many Louisville & Nashville (L&N) cabooses? 18 Southern Railway (SOU) cabooses? 15 Norfork & Western (NW) cabooses? 6

WHERE ARE THEY?

Stationary cabooses are found in twelve different settings in Tennessee. The chart below shows that most cabooses are displayed in a park or found on the property of a business. One out of eight stationary cabooses in TN sit at a private residence.

Top Seven Counties with Stationary Cabooses

These are the seven counties in Tennessee with the most stationary cabooses. Of the 95 counties in Tennessee, 60 counties have a stationary caboose.

WHO OWNS THEM?

Each stationary caboose in Tennessee has an owner. The vast majority of stationary cabooses in Tennessee are owned by a city or town (municipal owner). Many are owned by either a private entity (individual) or by a commercial business. Here is a chart of ownership of stationary cabooses in Tennessee:

WHAT KINDS OF USES?

The chart below shows the many different ways stationary cabooses are used across Tennessee. Being publicly displayed as a historical caboose is by far the most common use. Surprisingly, there are many cabooses tucked away on private property.

A historical display means the caboose is accessible to the public and has a historical connection. A novelty display is also accessible to the public but with no historical connection. A private display means the caboose is not openly accessible to the public. A business means the caboose is being used as an office or other business related building.

THE COLORFUL CABOOSE

Not surprising, red is the most commonplace color for a stationary caboose in Tennessee. The story goes that at first, every caboose was painted red so the end of a train could easily be seen by an another approaching train. Later on, railroad companies began to customize the paint colors for their cabooses and the result is a long list of caboose colors. Here is the count of colors of stationary cabooses in Tennessee.

TYPES OF CABOOSES

Railroad enthusiasts divide cabooses into four types. The number of each type found in Tennessee is in parenthesis.

Standard (48)

Cupola on top.

Extended Vision (24)

Wide cupola on top

Bay Window (47)

Bay windows on each side

Transfer (5)

Used in train yards. No lookouts.

MODIFIED CABOOSE

The overwhelming number of stationary cabooses in Tennessee have NOT been remodeled or renovated. Their insides and outsides remain as they were during their railroad days, except for maybe a new coat of outside paint. Cabooses with slight modifications had been equipped with electrical power, water supply and/or steps. Moderate modifications changed some of the original features of the caboose, like new windows, inside paneling and/or the couplers removed but not its character. The cabooses with the most extensive modifications are used for lodging. This chart shows the different numbers of stationary cabooses which have been modified with updates or renovations, or left as is.

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