Caboose Takes Another Trip

Early in 2009, the Tinley Park-Park District determined that additional parking at McCarthy Park was needed and contracted for the expansion of the current parking lot over the land occupied by #17869.

On Friday, April 3, 2009, the caboose was moved from its display at McCarthy Park and was put in the storage yard of Bechstein Construction, a local heavy equipment contractor.

#17869 being placed in its new location. Photo by Kelly Johnson.

On Monday, August 24, 2009, #17869 was moved to Freedom Park, just south of Metra's Tinley Park-80th Avenue train station and adjacent to the Tinley Park Public Library, which is located at 7851 Timber Drive, just east of 80th Avenue, about a quarter-mile north of 183rd Street.

During the Fall of 2011, the Park District gave #17869 and full exterior repainting and relettering, including lettering that more closely resembles what the Rock Island would have used and for the first time since its restoration, #17869 is wearing its original number.

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