Penn Central Caboose Photo Archive

The N5H Class
The ex-Southern Cabooses


N5H 250-254, 18430-18442
The N5H class included thirteen ex-Southen bay window cabooses (built in 1946), and five? (ex-Southern) Indianapolis Union Railway bay window cabooses (built in 1947).


By 1935, the corporate structure of the Indianapolis Union Railroad Company had changed. It was still an Indiana corporation, but ownership of its stock was divided between just two railroads, with the PCC&StL (PRR) holding 60% of the stock and the CCC&StL (NYC) holding the remaining 40%. The other railroads operating in Indianapolis at the time no longer had any equity stake, but continued to pay rent to the IU for their joint use of the company's facilities.

When the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the New York Central to form Penn Central Railroad in
1968, 100% control of the Indianapolis Union Railway passed to PC.

Penn Central kept the Indianapolis Union Railway as a
completely owned, but separately operated subsidiary.

It seems that, under PC, the five? Indianapolis Union Railway cabooses were painted green, kept thier numbers and INDPL'S Union Railway lettering.
No N5H cabooses numberered 18425-18429 show up on a PC 1974 caboose roster.

In April of 1976 The Indianapolis Union Railway Company was transferred from
Penn Central, to its new owner, Conrail. After this transfer of ownership, The Indianapolis Union Railway
Company became a Conrail entity and vanished. It seems that the five? Indianapolis Union Railway cabooses got their blue paint
and 18425-18429 numbers then after the N5Gs had been renumbered.

Indianapolis Union Railway Diesel Locomotive Roster
Serial #
Built Date
Type
Road No.
Road No.
Road No.
Road No.
Road No.
notes
10L300
8 & 11-49
H-10-44
IU 10
         
10L301
8 & 11-49
H-10-44
IU 11
         
10L302
8 & 11-49
H-10-44
IU 12
         
10L303
8 & 11-49
H-10-44
IU 13
         
10L363
3 & 4-50
H-10-44
IU 14
         
10L364
3 & 4-50
H-10-44
IU 15
         
10L365
3 & 4-50
H-10-44
IU 16
         
10L366
3 & 4-50
H-10-44
IU 17
         
10L367
3 & 4-50
H-10-44
IU 18
         
12L650
10-52
H-12-44
IU 19
         
12L651
10-52
H-12-44
IU 20
         
12L652
10-52
H-12-44
IU 21
         
32158
11-66
SW1500
IU 22
CR 9600
PRR 2238
MPEX 2238
 
built as
EMDX 106
32159
11-66
SW1500
IU 23
IU 200
CR 9601
ABB 1501
   
built as
EMDX 107
33541
11-67
SW1500
IU 24
CR 9602
ABB 1502
   
new for IU
33542
11-67
SW1500
IU 25
CR 9603
     
built as
EMDX 108
34348
10-68
SW1500
IU 26
CR 9604
     
new for IU
34347
11-68
SW1500
IU 27
CR 9605
GNA 9605
KCS 4319
 
built as
EMDX 110
36311
2-70
SW1500
IU 28
CR9606
RBMN 1546
   
built as
EMDX 112
36155-1
12-72
SW1500
IU 29
CR 9607
     
built as
EMDX 111
72671-1
12.72
SW1500
IU 30
CR 9608
.
.
.
new for IU
72671-2
12.72
SW1500
IU 31
CR 9609
PRR 2239
.
.
new for IU
72671-3
12.72
SW1500
IU 32
CR 9610
CSXT 1097
LLPX 210
.
new for IU
Updated May 18, 2014



The Southern cars were originally acquired by Penn Central in 1971 and relegated to yard service at various PC locations. Penn Central numbered them 18430-18442. The same numbers were used by Conrail.

PC 18430 was Southern 2921
PC 18431 was Southern 3084
PC 18432 was Southern 3101
PC 18433 was Southern 3125
PC 18434 was Southern 3126
PC 18435 was Southern 3137
PC 18436 was Southern 3159
PC 18437 was Southern 3141
PC 18438 was Southern 3143
PC 18439 was Southern 3156
PC 18440 was Southern 3170
PC 18441 was Southern 3172
PC 18442 was Southern 3173

 N5H
 LOCATION
DATE
PHOTO CREDIT

The Indianapolis Union Railway cabooses were originally numbered in the 250-256 series, (seven cabooses). Five went to Conrail and were renumbered 18425-18429. They were assigned to yard activity and also have the unmistakable look of a typical Southern bay window caboose.

250
Indianapolis IN
July 24, 1971
Dennis Schmidt
251
252
253
Indianapolis IN
July 24, 1971
Dennis Schmidt
253
Indianapolis IN
Sept 3, 1973
David H Hamley
254
255
256

EX-SOUTHERN RAILWAY CABOOSES

18430
18431
18432
18433
18434
18435
 Danbury CT
 Feb 19, 1978
 Al Tillotson
 Macungie PA
It appears to be lettered as scrap.
Jan 23,1979
 from the
collection of
Jim Hebner
18437
18438
18439
18440
18441
18442

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