This caboose served as a crew car at the end of freight trains in Arizona, and also had seating for passengers.

It was built in 1944 at the Phelps Dodge company shops in Ajo, Arizona, where trains served the New Cornelia copper mine. For many years it provided passenger service on the Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend Railroad between Gila Bend and Ajo. Its interior is equipped with separate lavatories for men and women. A roof-mounted tank provides water, and side doors allow for freight loading.

When the open-pit mine closed in 1985, the caboose remained on the property until it was donated by Phelps Dodge to the museum in 2006. It has been restored to its original appearance, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 2018.

The TC&GB operated one of the last mixed trains (passenger and freight) operating in the U.S. The trip from Ajo to Gila Bend was 43 miles long. The train hauled large slabs of copper to the Southern Pacific interchange at Gila Bend, remained about an hour, then returned to Ajo hauling oil cars of fuel for the smelter. Passengers could go both ways. One way fare was $0.97, round trip $1.94, half price for children 6–12.

This caboose is of non-standard design built to AAR freight car height specifications during wartime conditions. It is primarily of wood construction with metal end platforms, undercarriage, railings, brakes, and wheels. Originally painted dark green and numbered TCG 15, it was later painted red and yellow and numbered TC&GB 1.

The TC&GB railroad was built by the New Cornelia Copper Company in 1915 after copper ore was discovered in the Ajo area. The railroad brought in equipment for digging the open pit mine, then carried out processed copper. Phelps Dodge took over the operation in 1931 and ran it until the pit closed in 1985. The railroad ceased operating at that time, but re-opened temporarily in 1995-1998 so the Ajo smelter could be dismantled. Much of the mine trackage was removed, but as of this writing (late 2020) the rails still remain mostly in place between Gila Bend and Ajo.

When Phelps Dodge donated the caboose to the museum, they provided funding to cover moving expenses also. Southwest Industrial Rigging trucked it from Ajo on a lowboy trailer and delivered it to the museum′s Tumbleweed Park location on Ryan Road on August 15, 2006. It has now been repainted back to its previous dark green, numbered TCG 15.

	Exterior photo of the caboose on 12/7/2021.
	View of Conductor's desk.  The Conductor could use this desk to plan any pickups or deliveries.  The red "passenger" seat was for paying customers.  Photo taken 12/7/2021.
	Interior view of the stove/heater.  The red "passenger" seat was for paying customers.  Photo taken 12/7/2021.
	Detailed view of the Conductor's desk.  Various forms and notices hang on the wall.  Photo taken 12/7/2021.
	Interior view of the most unusual feature, a "Mens" and "Womens" bathroom.  Photo taken 12/7/2021.
	Interior view of the "baggage" portion of the caboose.  Larger items could be loaded into the caboose for hauling back to Ajo.  Photo taken 12/7/2021.
	Photo of caboose as of 1-15-2013.  ARM Members have repainted and re-lettered the exterior (still working on baggage doors).
	Photo of the caboose as delivered to ARM in 2006.
	Caboose in Gila Bend on November 26, 1976 by Bob Trennert.
	Photo of the caboose at the end of a freight train.
	Caboose and engine in Gila Bend.
	Side view of the caboose.
	Side and end view.
	Photo by Lorne A. Noyes (used with permission) of the caboose in 1967
	May 7, 2018 - The caboose is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
	Watch a historical movie.

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