Livingston beginning the planning process to determine the future of a historic red caboose that recently arrived in the community.
Main Street Livingston Director Morgan White said the organization received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the USDA, and the development district to fund the work. The planning process will involve an 11-member voting board to determine the permanent location and design of the space.
“While a train doesn’t come through anymore, we’re hoping to kind of bring that concept back to life and provide visitors and residents a way to like look back and reflect on the past with the train,” White said.
The caboose currently sits near an old railroad bed where trains once arrived regularly to transport goods like chickens. White said the train was once a significant part of the local economy and community life.
“We’ll be doing a five-year strategic plan that will include the caboose and what’s going to happen with that,” White said.
White said the goal is to create an educational experience for the public.
“Hopefully it will end up being something really special more than just a photo op, something that people can learn from and interact with,” White said. “But as far as the design and what the future of that area looks like, that has not been determined yet.”
Livingston also recently completed a wayfinding project featuring 35 historical signs that will be installed around the square. White said these signs include photos and dates to help celebrate the history of the area.
“Re-establishing the train area and the caboose will only further that mission to make Livingston’s historic past be well-known to the community and celebrated,” White said.
The project does not yet have a specific timeline for completion. An organization called Downtown Strategies will assist with the planning phase to decide how the caboose will be utilized.
White said the size of the caboose makes it difficult to move, and the organization will likely need to apply for additional grants to move forward with the next phases of development.