T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART
A replica of the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Society’s Baltimore and Ohio Railroad caboose project sits at the Belmont County Tourism Office, where visitors can see it before the real one is brought to Bellaire. Shown from left are Great Stone Viaduct Society board members Dan Frizzi and Kara Baker and President Ed Mowrer.

BELLAIRE — A replica caboose is on display at the Belmont County Tourism Office in the Ohio Valley Mall as the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society works to bring a real Baltimore and Ohio train caboose to Bellaire.

The B&O caboose project is intended to provide the Bellaire community with a railroad artifact originally owned by America’s first public railroad. The steel caboose making its way to Bellaire is equipped with eight-place seating, bunk beds, table, oil heater and stove, sink, toilet and tool storage and foot lockers.

Holloway and Barnesville already have cabooses from the B&O Railroad, but the society wants to bring the caboose to Bellaire to preserve more history in association with its Great Stone Viaduct projects.

Kara Baker, board member of the society, created a replica caboose with her stepfather that is now placed at the tourism office. The inspiration for creation of the replica caboose by Baker comes from an annual gift exchange between the board members. Baker thought about what the members would want and came to the conclusion that they are all passionate about the caboose.

The replica caboose is made out of all recycled material from Baker’s stepfather’s past crafts and jobs. Baker and her stepdad followed the real caboose designs step by step to create the replica.

“As far as the tourism board getting their updates, I was taking notes, copying it and applying it as the whole process was going on in real time here,” Baker said. “So I’m glad that we get to have the replica caboose to hold us over ’til the real caboose comes. And I love that it’s living on for something great.”

Baker loves the history the Ohio Valley has and said there is nothing more romantic than preserving and appreciating that history.

Baker has never designed something like the caboose before, so she described it as a “maddening” process. She and her stepdad went through four different materials to make sure it was sturdy and durable enough.

Society board member Dan Frizzi and other board members had an opportunity to purchase a caboose last year in March, so they decided to proceed and acquired the title to the caboose from the previous owner.

The board does not want to bring the real caboose to Belmont County until it is completely restored, renovated and repainted in the original colors of the Baltimore and Ohio caboose. The caboose was located in Jackson, Ohio, but after entering into a contract with the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, who is doing the renovations, the caboose was transported to Sugarcreek at the sole cost and expense of the Viaduct Society, which is where it currently resides.

The society is now doing a fundraising campaign for the project to bring the caboose to Bellaire, where it will be located adjacent to the viaduct plaza. The estimated total cost for this caboose, its restoration and transportation is $60,000.

Frizzi said the board needs to raise funds to not only have it restored but to make arrangements to have it transported to Belmont County once the restoration is complete.

The society is offering donors a gold spike, silver spike or bronze spike. Any donations of $1,000 or more will be granted gold spike recognition, a donation of $500 or more will be granted a silver spike recognition and a donation of $100 or more will be granted a bronze spike recognition. Businesses in Belmont County who also offer a donation will be able have the replica caboose displayed in their business for a certain amount of time.

Frizzi said the caboose is in very good condition but needs to be repainted and touched up with a couple window panes that need to be replaced.

“We’re committed. The Great Stone Viaduct Society is committed, and that’s the reason why we undertook to get the caboose in the first place. And then we incurred all the costs to get it transported to the Age of Steam RoundHouse, and we’ve entered into the contract with the Age of Steam,” Frizzi said. “So that’s what the purpose of our fundraising project is, to complete the renovation and to get it back to Belmont County.”

The society estimates the restoration will be done in four to six months. Then it can be transported from Sugarcreek to Bellaire.

“It compliments the Great Stone Viaduct, which is a National Historic Landmark,” Frizzi said. “Our Great Stone Viaduct plaza is a place where we’ve had people from all over the country come to visit since we restored the viaduct and made it available for public viewing.”