BAR caboose to Connecticut Trolley Museum

In 1995, NECR became the owner/operator of the railroad track between Alburgh, VT through Mansfield, CT to New London, CT. Their interests were the track, not the buildings. Prior to 1995, CV had ownership of the line prior, and also had passenger operations, so they also owned station property (land parcels without track). CV Railway was a subsidiary of CN and operated as such in later years. This was why GT, CN, and CV equipment was common place through Mansfield, CT. After 1995, CV Railways changed it's name to CV Properties Inc. (CVP) after relieving itself of railway operation. CVP now owns most of the non railroad track parcels that NECR has no interest in. The Mansfield station has been under CV ownership it's whole life. The station building was rented to the restaurant. The caboose was purchased by the original business owner many many years ago. After the station burned in 2003, the later owner had no interest in rebuilding. The caboose became the property of CVP and sat idle for 7 years and is now going to CTM (CT Trolley Museum).

Hi guys,

Just wanted to update everyone on the progress of this project. Running a little behind schedule but within cooperation of CN, today marked a large milestone in the caboose move project. Today, the caboose body was moved for the first time in many many decades. The body was loaded onto one trailer. The trucks/wheels were loaded onto another trailer. Tomorrow they will depart to the CT Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT! Anyone wishing to photograph this operation should arrive early tomorrow morning at the former Mansfield Depot site. If you would really like to photograph everything in Mansfield as is before the move, try to get there around 8:30am. The wheels are moving first. Later in the day, the body will be moved. While this post makes everything seem simple, this was an enormous task that took all day just to load these pieces onto the trailers. This move has turned out to be more expensive than planned. Thus, the trolley museum would be greatly appreciative of any donations to help ease our costs for this move. You may contact me via e-mail [email protected], or PM me.

The B&A Caboose is sitting at the museum right now on the Visitor Center Access Tracks. We hope to begin work on the caboose this winter, and plan to be using it in the next year or two for Birthday Parties and other events or meetings. The caboose needs to be re-insulated & sided and needs a new roof on it. We are still raising money for the caboose move and repairs as the cost to move it escalated to $7000 from the original quote of $2500. If anyone is interested in making a donation, large or small, please mail donations to "Connecticut Trolley Museum, PO Box 360, East Windsor, CT 06088". Checks may be made payable to the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Please include a note that the donation is for the "BAR Mansfield Depot Caboose Fund". We recognize all donors in our quarterly newsletter.