Cabooser
PRR #980015
The Pennsylvania Railroad's Class N6B wood cabin cars, also known as cabooses, were a common sight on the system from the early 1920s into the late 1960s. Introduced in 1913 to comply with new state laws, they featured a unique narrow cupola with tapered sides to clear eastern tunnels. Many were rebuilt from older four-wheel cars, with some receiving a center-mounted cupola and others an offset one. The N6B class was designed to be a safer and more robust caboose than the older four-wheel cars, particularly in response to safety regulations. They were built with steel underframes and two four-wheel trucks, and many were rebuilt from older wooden car bodies. The distinctive feature of the N6B was its narrow, tapered cupola, a necessity for navigating eastern tunnels with limited overhead clearance. These cabooses saw extensive service, with many lasting for 40 to 50 years, primarily on local and work trains. While many were eventually retired, some survived into the Penn Central era and a few can still be found at museums and in private collections today.