Early 1900’s Caboose photo

[Eric Reinert]

A pic that was posted by Richard Fiedler on a Facebook group. I had never seen this style caboose before. It’s rather low quality, sorry.

[George Lortz]

Eric,

Thanks for posting.  Interesting looking box hanging on the side of the cupola.  Looks like it might be a lighting system of some sort.

George L.

[Chuck Stewart]

Help this old guy out.  I’ve never seen a side frame/bolster arrangement like this.  Any comments?

[Eric Reinert]

Chuck- I think that style of truck is a "Diamond Arch Bar". Here's a link to a model of them. https://www.protocraft.com/category.cfm?ItemID=3196&Categoryid=50 
The model by Boo-Rim has spoked wheels, which this caboose doesn't have, but they look like a pretty close match to me. Other things of note are: The woman has a lantern, implying she is an employee, and the rear marker mounted to the cupola side. I might be wrong, but I don't think there's a single reference to this caboose's number in any company roster in any book I've ever read.

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Eric!  In the model photo, the bolster is open on the ends but in the prototype photo the bolster end is solid.  I’ve never seen that before on this style of truck.  Good job picking out the details.  That is a fascinating photo.

[Eric Reinert]

The cynic in me has to ask if maybe this is an A.I. generated photo. At least the "Monon Route" logos, etc. Just seems mighty fishy- The pixelation (so it has been AI enhanced at least), the fact I've never even heard of a caboose of this style, and the lack of documentation of this number scheme for cabooses. This is too weird. I'm not passing judgement totally, but I really, really have to wonder if this is a legit Monon photo.