The Red Caboose Motel, Railroad motel in Ronks, Pennsylvania, US
The Red Caboose Motel is a lodging facility made up of 38 converted railroad cabooses positioned on actual railroad tracks near Strasburg Rail Road. The accommodations are housed directly in these restored freight cars, which have been adapted with standard amenities for guest stays.
The motel was founded in 1970 when the owner bought 19 freight cars from Penn Central Railroad and moved them to the site during harsh winter weather. The collection grew from this initial purchase into the larger property that operates today.
Each caboose displays paint schemes from different North American railroad companies, showing the visual heritage of American rail history. Visitors can see how various rail operators marked their equipment with distinctive colors and logos.
The property has an on-site restaurant housed in converted dining cars that serves traditional American meals and can seat around 120 guests. Many tables offer views of the passing steam locomotives from the nearby rail line.
The property received recognition in the Guinness World Records in 1984 for maintaining the largest privately owned collection of cabooses on Earth. This distinction remains notable for railroad history enthusiasts who visit.
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