B&O I-5 Caboose History

From the B&O to the Whitewater Valley Railroad wvrrlogo

History of the B&O I-5 Caboose
The concept of the I-5 caboose began in early 1924 at the B&O Mechanical Engineering shops at Mt. Clare in Baltimore. The plan was to strengthen there existing wood caboose design by adding a steel frame and steel ends. The first prototype of this new class was built in Mt. Clare where the fine tuning of the design could take phase with the design group nearby. The prototype was finished in the latter part of that year and numbered C-1900. The plans were further refined and production was begun either in late 1924 or early 1925 at the B&O shops in Washington, Indiana. A total of 401 I-5's were produced between 1924 and 1929. Model numbers from C-1900 to C-2299. The extra one was built as a wreck replacement, the number is unknown at this time.

Our Caboose C-1902 was the second one completed at the Washington Indiana shops and is believed to be the oldest I-5 still remaining. One of the noticeable items that distinguishes the early I-5's are the 4 pane side windows. Later models had single pane glazing. Over the course of the next 5 years a total of 401 I-5 were built. All but one had wood sides with steel under framing. with the exception of C-2297 which was built with a all steel external body. This is the only steel cupola caboose built by the B&O and still exists near Frazeyburg Ohio.

The I-5's were originally painted in Freight Car Brown with Black railing and White on the Grab Irons and White lettering. I am still trying to obtain the original interior color if they were painted at all. During and just after World War II the cars were repainted Devils Red and remained that way until 1971 when the yellow Chessie paint became the norm and several I-5's received the yellow with blue lettering paint scheme.

The I-5C was the first major improvement in the design. with a elongated wheel base and added weight due to the addition of concrete placed beneath the floor boards. The I-5D's were updated I-5's with the increased wheelbase and concrete floors added to the existing cars. You can tell the ones converted by looking at the caboose from the side. If the leading wheel is behind the steps then it has the increased wheel base if the I-5C's & D's.

Other changes to the I-5's included removal of the tool boxes, replacement of the arch bar trucks and the addition of AB brakes. Some cars received sanitary facilities and oil stoves in there later years. The last of the I-5's were retired in the early 1980's but several survive around the country including 5 at the Whitewater Valley Railroad.

Drawing