Ever wanted to own part of a train? If that's your life's desire, then you have an opportunity to purchase a caboose for only a couple of thousand dollars.

Ponchatoula Country Market officials say they're trying to sell the historic caboose that's parked outside their building in the city's downtown area.

It's been there since 1987 when it was donated to the Market by Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.

“We’ve actually been trying to sell it for over a year,” said spokeswoman Mardi Massel. “We’re hoping to sell it to someone interested in turning it into an art studio, tattoo studio, tiny house, or anyone interested in the history of the railroad in general.”

The caboose is on the market for a steal at $2,000.

There is a bit of a catch. Massel said the caboose had fire damage before it was donated to the market and it needs to be refurbished extensively.

“It needs some welding and repairs to its roof so it can be repurposed safely, but its structure remains intact,” she said.

However, it did get a little bit of a boost not that long ago. A year ago, Massel's daughter and graduate students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe restored the railcar to look as it did during its active period.

The Ponchatoula Country Market provided historical records that show the caboose had been abandoned and stored in an empty lot. Unfortunately, neither the city nor the Illinois Railroad could determine when the caboose was built.

A 1945 baggage car was once parked alongside it.

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