B&O Unlocked: B&O No. C-1775 Wooden Bobber Caboose

This July, get ready to hop inside the B&O No. C-1775 Wooden Bobber Caboose!

From the 1870s through the Great Depression, the B&O Railroad was building and purchasing “bobber” cabooses like the B&O No. C-1775. Named for their bumpy and unstable riding conditions, “bobbers” served as business offices, mobile lookout towers, and sleeping quarters.

No. C-1775 is a wooden 4-wheel caboose with a cupola window to allow better visibility for the crew. Some “bobbers” were built at the Mt. Clare shops and at smaller B&O shops. The Buffalo & Susquehanna Railroad (B&S), a Pennsylvania coal and lumber line, built the No. C-1775 in 1907. The caboose received a new owner when the B&O took over the B&S in 1932. It was retired in 1953 and restored for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum as the only surviving caboose of its type.

Get to the museum before this piece of the collection is locked once again!

Tours:

Tours will be available between 10 AM – 4 PM.

Please note: This tour requires participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven pathways. A virtual tour will be available on-site via QR code. Docent Tour Guides stationed near the car can answer any additional questions about the history and physical description of the rail car. Small children must be accompanied by an adult guardian at all times.

Admission:

Included with Museum Admission. FREE for B&O Members.
Visit on Wednesday, July 10 for $10 Admission Day!

More about the B&O Unlocked Series

Prepare to step into a world of exclusive access to a remarkable collection!

While these historical marvels have been glimpsed from afar, their doors have remained closed to most… until 2024. Each month the B&O Railroad Museum will be choosing an item from the museum collection and be unlocking it for a limited time.

Secure your seat on this unprecedented journey through history by purchasing a B&O Membership — the ultimate ticket to explore and experience every hidden gem among these iconic trains. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock the rails to history!

Step inside the complete 2024 series!

No. CE-15 Tunnel Clearance Car

January 10, 13 & 14

The CE-15, nicknamed the porcupine, stands as a testament to innovation, marking a pivotal moment in locomotive design with its groundbreaking features.

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MARC No. 7100

February 14, 17 & 18

We’re celebrating this iconic locomotive for its pivotal role in modernizing commuter rail travel.

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SEH No. 4 “St. Elizabeth”

March 13, 16 & 17

The SEH No. 4 – known affectionately as the “St. Elizabeth” or “Little Lizzie” — was one of the last steam locomotives ever produced in the United States.

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B&O No. 908 “John T. Collinson” Office Car

April 10, 13 & 14

Before the era of private jets, the No. 908 was the pinnacle of luxury travel for business executives, celebrities, and politicians.

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PEPCO No. 43

May 8, 11 & 12

This exceptional locomotive isn’t your ordinary steam engine—it’s a unique “fireless” steam locomotive crafted by Heisler Works in Erie, PA.

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B&O No. 1961 Speedliner/BUDD Car

June 12, 15 & 16

This self-propelled streamliner revolutionized rail travel as a Rail Diesel Car (RDC) developed by the BUDD Company in 1949.

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B&O No. C-1775 Wooden Bobber Caboose

July 10, 13 & 14

Named for their bumpy and unstable riding conditions, “bobbers” served as business offices, mobile lookout towers, and sleeping quarters.

Learn More

B&O No. 7701 “Dreamland Sleeper”

August 14, 17 & 18

From a time when rail passenger services faced fierce competition from airlines and automobiles the BUDD Slumbercoaches were innovative creations designed to counter this threat.

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Pere Marquette No. 11 Diesel Switcher

September 11, 14 & 15

The PM No. 11 stands as a diesel switcher, purpose-built to navigate rail yards and industrial parks across short distances.

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B&O No. 1083 Pullman Diner

October 9, 12 & 13

The No. 1083 is no ordinary diner — it boasts a streamlined exterior reminiscent of the mid-century, while its interior design harks back to the 1940s.

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Domino No. 50 “Sweet Toot” Switcher

November 6, 9 & 10

The “Sweet Toot” was the powerhouse responsible for maneuvering freight cars loaded with liquid and granulated sugar within the confines of the iconic Domino Sugar refinery in Baltimore.

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