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Re: Odd (to me) Monon car

william darnaby
 

In the late 60’s I took a photo of one of the B&O’s cars in Indianapolis made from an M26.  It had a side step for the door and caboose grab and ladder type equipment.  Other roads just used an extra caboose at the head end.  Some extended the steam engine cab for the extra seat and a notable one had a tender dog house.  The Monon and NKP found it useful to have the boss at the head end on locals and made cars for that because it was handy to have the conductor right there when the engine stopped at the depot to see the agent, particularly when the train had some length.  Saved walking or backing and forthing.

 

Bill Darnaby

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Seth Lakin via Groups.Io
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2019 6:32 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Odd (to me) Monon car

 

Craig wrote:” a 'front end' caboose was required by Indiana state law for trains longer than 65 cars.”


Not exactly, Indiana’s full crew law stated
”It shall be unlawful for any carrier to operate a freight train consisting of seventy (70) cars or more, without a crew of competent employees, which crew shall consist of not less than one (1) engineer, one (1) fireman, one (1) conductor, one (1) flagman, and two (2) brakemen.”

The law did not specify a head end caboose. But the Monon and NKP utilized such cars. The NKP cars were converted from 36’ wood sided boxcars. The NYC had almost identical but the NYC used them in transfer and terminal service.


Seth Lakin
Michigan City IN
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