_edited.jpg)
EQUIPMENT
In addition to preserving the history of the railroad itself, Lebanon Branch Preservation Trust is working to preserve equipment that operated on the rail lines of Central Kentucky.
ROLLING STOCK
L&N Caboose #156
Caboose 156 was built in 1952 by the International Railway Car & Equipment Company for the Monon railroad as their number C-363. Later it was renumbered to 81504, and then was transferred to the L&N in the 1971 L&N-Monon merger. First being L&N number 909, it was later renumbered to 6909, and finally 156. L&N assigned this caboose to their Louisville Division, and at the end of its career it operated on L&N's Lebanon and Greensburg Branches in the late 1970's/early 1980's.
On July 18th, 1980 caboose 156 brought up the rear of the last train to ever leave Greensburg, KY. Finally in 1983 it was retired, and was sold to the conductor who used it, John Coulter, who moved it to his property in Parksville, KY. In 2013 it was sold as part of an estate auction and found its way to northern Alabama. For the last decade it sat on static display at a private residence in Ardmore, Alabama. On February 6th, 2024 L&N 156 was transported by truck and arrived at Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY where it is currently being restored to operational condition.
Lebanon Branch Preservation Trust self-produced a 47-minute documentary about the story of caboose 156 called "Central Kentucky's Caboose". To watch the documentary visit our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/D9smM8X-rek?si=XV06L4vXrqyNYLJ8
L&N Caboose #156 in Ardmore, AL.
Robert's Towing loading caboose 156 in Ardmore, AL.
Caboose 156 arriving at Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY.
Caboose 156 sitting on Lebanon Branch rails for the first time in over 40 years.
STRUCTURES
L&N Watchman's House
Before the advent of flashing lights and gate arms at railroad crossings, busy crossings in cities were protected by watchmen. These watchmen would sit inside one of these small structures protected from the cold and the weather and would be alert of approaching trains. They would then either lower a manual gate arm or step out and hold up a "STOP" sign to halt cars and pedestrians until the train safely passed.
This watchman's house was donated to LBPT in 2025 by a citizen of Lebanon, KY. The original location of this watchman's house is not known, however sometime in the 1940's the watchman's house was acquired from the L&N Railroad for use as a backyard shed at a residence in Lebanon. Following the donation of the watchman's house, Lebanon Branch Preservation Trust members stabilized the delicate century old structure and transported to its new location for restoration and dispaly.
We are very appreciative of our partner, Kentucky Railway Museum, for allowing this historic Watchman's shed to be temporarily placed on display at their New Haven museum site, as Lebanon Branch Preservation Trust does not yet have a suitable location in Marion County for it to be displayed. In the future as we progress in our organization's mission, the watchman's house will eventually be returned home to Lebanon for display.
To watch a short video about the story of this watchman's house, visit our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/s6CYvygWojM?si=2GeKB8tBg2SNfnlS
L&N Watchman's House at Kentucky Railway Museum.
Page 49 of L&N's Blueprints of Standard Buildings.