News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The former Cookeville L&N Caboose loving its new life in Baxter after being restored, though more work is planned.
The restoration process consisted of pressure washing, sanding, decaling, and painting. Friends of the Baxter Depot President Glenn Jones said that people are enjoying the new look of the caboose.
“A lot of people get their pictures made with it,” Jones said. “And what I’ve had from a lot of people tell me that they were tickled that is was left in Putnam County because they took pictures of their children playing on it back 30 years ago and now their children are grown and they are taking pictures of their children on that same caboose.”
Jones said there are plans to build a freight station and a stage with lighting around the caboose.
The caboose was a gift from the Cookeville City Council to Baxter and was relocated in December of 2021. Jones said the Caboose is an important part of Putnam County History.
“The L&N Railroad is very important for the history of Putnam County,” Jones said. “And we have a really nice caboose to show that L&N was here once.”
Jones said the caboose has more work and plans.
“We still have a lot to do to it,” Jones said “And we accept donations, we love people to contribute to it because that’s all we do is, our festivals are to raise money to preserve the history of Putnam County and Baxter.”
The most notable change is the caboose is painted red with a yellow trim. The caboose contains a museum inside and is usually open during festivals.
