Caboose Park Exhibit
Step outside the Bowman Museum and into a vivid piece of Prineville’s railroad past. Opened in 2018, Caboose Park is home to one of the most eye-catching artifacts in our collection—a fully restored, bright yellow caboose from the City of Prineville Railway. It’s perched proudly on a short stretch of track just steps from downtown, inviting visitors of all ages to climb aboard and experience what life was like for a working rail crew in the mid-20th century.
This 42,000-pound caboose was built in the 1940s by the Lee Valley Railroad in Pennsylvania. It joined the Prineville fleet in the 1960s and served until 1979, when advances in rail technology made cabooses largely obsolete. Since then, this car spent time as an office and made the occasional excursion on the City of Prineville’s 19-mile rail line. Today, it finds its final home right here, where it continues to tell the story of a town that wouldn’t let itself be left behind.
Back in 1911, when regional rail lines bypassed Prineville in favor of Bend, community leaders took matters into their own hands. With voter support, they built the City of Prineville Railway—a city-run rail line that changed the town’s fate. The railway supported sawmills, jobs, and growth through much of the 20th century. In the 1960s, mill activity was so robust that the city could operate on rail revenue alone, with no need to collect taxes. It’s a story of grit, innovation, and civic pride—and the caboose you see today is part of that legacy.
Visitors can explore the caboose’s restored interior, which still features its original mint-green paint, bunks, stove, desk, and even a hand-cranked pencil sharpener. Outside, Caboose Park includes a replica of the historic Prineville Railway facade and a welcoming courtyard that connects seamlessly with the rest of the Bowman Museum campus.
Whether you’re a history buff, a train lover, or just looking for a great photo op in the heart of town, Caboose Park offers a one-of-a-kind stop that celebrates Prineville’s determination to stay on track.
