City Engineer In Search Of A CabooseBy: Steve Yablonski
Wednesday January 10 2007
OSWEGO, NY - Wanted. Little caboose, preferably red. Not to exceed 50 feet in length.
The Port City’s engineer is on track to find a caboose to be the focal point of the Seaway Trail Park along East First Street, adjacent to the former railroad trestle which was transformed into a pedestrian walkway.
The idea was born of Tony Leotta’s vision of Oswego’s storied railroad history. He believes the caboose would be a fitting tribute to the heyday of railroads in Oswego when many New York Central trains traversed the Oswego River at that site.
The trains ran through the city from the 1860s until around 1976, Leotta said.
“I can still visualize the caboose going by,” he said. “The Seaway Trail Interpretative Park already has a railroad platform and eight benches. A caboose would be a wonderful addition. It would be nice to have a red caboose as the backdrop, to signify the trains that came through there.”
With the newly installed street clock in the area, as well, it is the focal point for tourism, Leotta said. It would be nice to have another attraction, he added.
They are looking into the possibility that a passenger car might be available in the Parish area.
If it’s longer than 50 feet, it won’t fit in the available space. Also, it needs to be in decent condition.
Leotta has spoken to Joe Ukyela who owns the little red caboose on Route 34 in Hannibal. His caboose came from the Ontario