The caboose was constructed in 1941 as part of the first run of steel cabooses on the Southern Railway. The caboose was built primarily for "helper" service where sidings were scarce, causing the helper locomotive to be pushing the caboose behind the train. After several wood-constructed cabooses were crushed, Southern's Mechanical Department decides to convert some box cars to cabooses. This car was part of the original order from the Southern's Mechanical Department converting box cars to helper cabooses. The car is in good overall condition but needs restoration, it is basically complete except for the water tanks and misc. small items.