Historic caboose ready for move to Lewes display site Dec. 19

Stango Park in Lewes will be receiving a gift just in time for the holidays – a shiny-red, restored vintage Pennsylvania Railroad caboose. The vehicle will be moved by Coastal Towing early Monday, Dec. 19, and placed on the section of preserved track between the Lewes Public Library and the Rollins Community Center.

Through the efforts of the Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association, the caboose was purchased last December from the defunct Delaware Coast Line Railroad. Since then, volunteers have been scraping, painting and cleaning the interior of the car. Recently, a professional exterior paint job was completed. The caboose is the first piece in a planned rolling stock exhibit which will add to the understanding of Lewes’ rich history.

Built in 1917 for the Pennsylvania Railroad and used on the tracks in Sussex County over intervening years, the caboose has been restored to reflect its origins. It last operated under DCLR’s banner on the tracks that served the SPI Pharma facility. The caboose also saw service on the Queen Anne’s Railroad, a tourist train in operation during the early 1990s.

A 210-foot portion of original track was preserved by the City of Lewes and Delaware Department of Transportation to showcase rolling stock and interpret the significant part railroading played in the history of Sussex County. LJRBA previously partnered with both entities to save and display the historic railroad swing bridge that spanned the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal for 106 years. That bridge is now permanently displayed along the rail trail at the intersection of American Legion Road.

To support LJRBA’s efforts and learn more, go to lewesjunctionrr.org.