Railroad Caboose No. 16

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Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad wooden bobber caboose number 16, compact four-wheel design from 1913

Class: ND

Built: 1913

Manufactureer: Pennsylvania Railroad, Altoona, Pennsylvania

Retired: 1954

Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain Railroad (H&BTM) Caboose No. 16 was originally constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1913 as a Class ND cabin car; the H&BTM later acquired it before World War II. The caboose features a steel underframe, a 13-foot 6-inch wheelbase, and a total length of 29 feet. Its compact, four-wheel design, known as a "bobber," was common in the era but eventually phased out due to stability concerns.

Serving as a mobile office and living quarters for train crews, Caboose No. 16 was integral to the H&BTM's operations. This railroad transported semi-bituminous coal from the Broad Top Mountain region. The wooden body features vertical tongue-and-groove siding, a raised cupola for crew visibility over the train, and end platforms with railings and ladders—standard for cabooses of its era. After the H&BTM ceased operations, the caboose was preserved and is now part of the museum's collection. It offers insight into the daily lives of railroad workers and the evolution of railcar design.

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