Help Revitalize an important piece of del ray’s history
Our little red caboose
“Can you imagine anything more exciting than hearing a child say the name of my school is the Little Red Caboose?” — Helen Judy, 1973
In 1973, a letter to Norfolk and Western Railways changed everything. Helen Judy, Director of Parent Aides at the Mount Vernon Elementary School, wrote to N&W railroad executive Thomas Kilcullen with a big idea: donate a caboose to the school, and give Del Ray’s children a learning space unlike anything else in the city. Mr. Kilcullen said yes. The neighborhood showed up to get the caboose here. And for decades, thousands of kids climbed into that little red caboose to read, learn, and imagine.
Today, the caboose still stands at the Mount Vernon Community School. But it has been closed for years, and it needs restoration. And once again, our neighborhood is showing up.
A Piece of Del Ray History
Built in 1912 and donated in 1973, the Little Red Caboose has been part of our neighborhood’s identity for over half a century.
A Community Project
The Caboose Crew is a nonprofit formed by Del Ray neighbors — parents, longtime residents, and history lovers — dedicated to bringing the caboose back to life.
Open for Generations to Come
Our goal: a fully restored caboose that's safe, accessible, and open for students, families, and community events for decades to come.
join our crew
We are a group of Del Ray community members, including current and former MVCS parents, who are working to revitalize the Caboose so that it lasts another 50 years as a reminder of our community’s history.