UPDATE (as of end of day Tuesday): The historic Kosciusko caboose has now been successfully moved to the end of Washington Street where it intersects with Wells Street, directly in front of the Attala County Tax Assessor/Collector’s Office.
Crews completed the move as part of the ongoing relocation process.
Work officially got underway this morning to relocate a historic railroad caboose that has stood in downtown Kosciusko for more than 40 years.
The 1894-era railcar, located near the Strand Theater area, is being carefully prepared for its move to a new site closer to Highway 35 as part of a city preservation effort.
Mayor Tim Kyle previously announced that the caboose would be relocated after concerns grew about the deteriorating wooden structure supporting it. City officials say the base had weakened significantly after decades in place, raising the risk of potential collapse.
A specialized railroad contractor from Arkansas is handling the move, using portable track systems to slowly roll the caboose rather than lifting it with cranes. The process will guide the railcar along Washington Street and Wells Street before it is set back onto existing downtown tracks.
The caboose, originally brought to Kosciusko in the early 1980s and once used as a tax office, is not native to the city but has become a familiar local landmark over the decades.
Once relocated, city leaders say the long-term goal is to preserve and eventually restore the caboose, positioning it as a distinctive welcome feature near Highway 35.
During the relocation, portions of streets will be closed.
As of this report, Washington Street is closed from The Attala County Chancery Court Building to the square.
Daniel Hurren
June 9, 2026 at 4:32 AMPriorities all messed up. We got terrible roads costing us more money and I almost wanna try and fill the dang things myself but y’all worried about a dusty old train
Jim Gilbert
June 10, 2026 at 6:37 AMWith all of the really good things that are happening in Kosciusko it would have been a shame to have lost the Caboose.
The city has done the right and correct thing even though I would loved to have it remain in the original location. The trestle could have been rebuilt of reinforced concrete. Nothing is free. What is being done will allow the Caboose to remain in Kosciusko. All cites have infrastructure issues. In my humble opinion Kosciusko is doing very well.
mary faye sinclair
June 10, 2026 at 9:16 AMleft a comment but since i don’t see it, ditto what jim gilbert said