NW 518568 - Front Royal VA - Train Cabooses on Waymarking.com

By the 1850s, the Southern Railway reached Front Royal in northwestern Virginia. The railroad was destroyed during the Civil War, but resumed operation in 1870. A train depot was built and passenger trains arrived daily through the WWI years. But the advent of the automobile signaled the decline of rail transportation, and the last passenger train into Front Royal was in 1946. The end of the line for freight service was in 1959.

Today, the old train station serves as the Warren County Visitor's Center. Only a remnant of the track remains and on it sits a NW 518568 caboose. The caboose was given to the town by the Norfolk & Southern Railway Co. in 1989. Originally, the sides were painted with gold letters that read Front Royal Train Company (see old photos), but currently it bears its correct designation in white letters.

The caboose sits in the Village Commons, which surrounds the Visitor's Center and features other attractions.

References:

• Walking Tour Front Royal, VA., pg. 2
• Abandoned Rails: Front Royal Junction to Front Royal

Current Use: On display at the former Front Royal train station which now functions as a visitors center Type Of Caboose: Cupola, "Standard"

Visit Instructions:
Please visit the location of the caboose, brake van, or guard van, provide visit details through photo or narrative.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   01/29/2017 farmer_bill wrote comment for it 04/20/2015 Mychell visited it

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