Funding drive to restore historic B&O caboose

The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society is bringing a piece of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad history to Belmont County and you can help! A funding drive has begun to restore an iconic B & O caboose and bring it to Bellaire’s Great Stone Viaduct.

The B & O Caboose Project will provide the Bellaire community with a tangible piece of railroad history originally owned by America’s first public railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The B & O has long been an important part of the local scene, taking over the first railroad to enter Belmont County in 1854.

Great Stone Viaduct Board Member Kara Baker made a replica caboose, currently on display at the Belmont County Tourism Office in St. Clairsville, out of recycled materials and believes the model is a great first look for people before the real one is placed in front of the Great Stone Viaduct.

The C-26 Class caboose numbered 3825 was one of the last built for the B & O in 1971 in Kenton, Ohio, Despite being a little over 50 years old, the caboose is still in good condition. The steel caboose has eight seats, bunk beds, a table, an oil heater/stove, a sink, a toilet, tool storage, and foot lockers. Potential uses for the caboose include a Welcome Center, the Society’s office, a gift shop, or an exhibit.

Frizzi said the B & O Railroad had a great presence in Bellaire and the caboose may have crossed the viaduct. The Society plans to put the caboose in a prominent location near the viaduct, complementing the national historic landmark. The Great Stone Viaduct was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It attracts many tourists and railroad enthusiasts each year. The Viaduct is a visual reminder of the community’s past and rich railroad history, and a display of strength and engineering. On June 21, 1871, the first train traveled over the 43-stone arch bridge connecting Ohio to West Virginia. A 20-arch portion of the stone viaduct is now open to the public as a walking trail, overlook, and plaza. Bellaire will join Holloway and Barnesville as Belmont County communities with cabooses preserving B & O’s history in the county.

Money raised through the funding drive will cover the cost of the caboose’s restoration and transportation to Bellaire. The transportation of the caboose from Jackson, Ohio to Bellaire will be almost two-thirds of the estimated $60,000 cost. The project will be completed in three steps. Step 1 is to move the caboose from its resting place in Jackson to the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Step 2 is restoring the exterior and windows to their original B & O paint scheme and markings in the familiar colors of Baltimore and Ohio. Step 3 will be to transport the finished caboose to Bellaire.

The Viaduct Society is asking for the community’s help with the funding drive and is offering three sponsorship levels: Gold Spike ($1,000), Silver Spike ($500), and Bronze Spike ($100). Belmont County businesses at the Silver and gold level will temporarily display the model in their business. All donors will be recognized on a bronze plaque with a granite marker at the caboose’s permanent location.

The Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society is an Ohio non-profit corporation chartered in 2012 as a qualified tax-exempt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Society promotes local history and provides educational opportunities.

Click here for more information about this project, how you can become a sponsor, and a detailed year-by-year history of the caboose.