how good (quality wise) are the williams port hole cabooses ?

Paint job is OK, and no issues with warped plastic. There is a nice lead weight inside, so there's good mass. I have an N&W version which is very non-prototypical. I bought it before I knew any better. The only issue I've had is with the windows falling out. Easy to glue back but something I haven't had to do with other mfg.

I do have the Lionel UP Boy Scout 100th Commemorative. It is outstanding.

Gilly

Hello Gilly@N&W..........

interesting, can you measure the height from top of the rail to the top of the roof where the cat walk boards.   What i am doing is trying to find a caboose that is not in scale but semi-scale to go behind my railking challenger.   The railking challenger is semi-scale and most of the mth's (even railking) cabooses are in scale and they look too big behind the challenger.  I am hoping the williams caboose is semi-scale or smaller.  By the way my favorite N&W engine is the Y6B SMILE.

thank you Gilly...

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

The williams caboose is going to be a lot like the postwar Lionel N5c "porthole" cabooses.  Very close in size to it anyway.

I have a Lionel and Williams, they are the same size. They are a bit smaller than my MTH version of the same caboose (I have one of those as well).

All of the windows fell out of mine as well, I think they used a solvent glue over the paint and it doesn't stick properly (the windows in my williams BL2 engine also fell out)

It is a Pennsy cabosse, so it might look odd behind your Challenger. 

I have one in PC; have not had any issues with it... yet. I plan to use it with my semi-scale GG-1.

I have 4 of them.  They are every bit as nice as a Lionel porthole caboose from the MPC era.  As far as the windows falling out the oldest one I have did have windows that fell out.  They changed the windows on the newer ones and I have had no problems with these.  The Pennsy caboose that I run with my Williams GG1 or turbine is my favorite.  Yes, WWB needs to come out with a new caboose that isn't a model used by just one railroad.  

Yep, I really like them due to their similarity to the PW Lionel cabooses (cabeese?) and the plethora of roadnames.  I have a Cheesie, a B&O, and a Pennsy and like them all.

hello guys and gals.........

does anyone have the measurements of that williams caboose from the top of the rails to the roof where the cat walk boards in middle.

thanks

the woman who love toy trains

Tiffany

Tiffany,

Mine is burried in a case of Cabeese amongst a dozen or so other cases. It would take some time just to find it to dig it out. I checked the WBB website for you. The dimensions are:

CAR LENGTH 8.5" • HEIGHT 3.5"

Gilly

Email me offline. I have a non-scale Lionel UP Baywindow that I could let go of cheap if you're interested.

Another one to consider is the RMT center cupola caboose. They have UP is stock. Their paint jobs are first rate and design is closer to what you might find on the UP. The end railings are a bit crude but that could be replaced.

http://www.readymadetoys.com/upunionpacific1.html

Pete

Looking at your picture made me notice - they must use that same figure with all of their offerings.

Sorry I didn't think about RMT. I have a Christmas Caboose from them and it is pretty nice...

Your silver UP caboose is $32 from Trainz.com http://www.trainz.com/p-251174...aboose-up-25493.aspx

I have both the WBB and RMT and my vote would be on the RMT.

Tiffany:

I have 10 of the WBB N5C cabooses and have only had the window issue with the two oldest.  Other than the windows in those two, all 10 track extremely well through switches.  I've had no issues with flickering lights or roller pickups getting "wobbly" like in some Postwar and MPC era Lionel cabooses.  Additionally, I've never had any issue with couplers on these cabooses coming open by themselves.

WBB cabooses are built to the same high standard of quality as their engines.

Curt

I agree with Nicole that they are good quality. I have had the BNSF version for over 2 years with no problems.

But judging from her first post, I think she already ordered the Williams one.

My oldest Williams N5C had clear windows while the newer ones have frosted windows and have been problem free.

I also have a few RMT caboose, but the end handrails are really not well done.  They should be changed.  Otherwise I like them very much.

Hello Nicole (N.Q.D.Y.)

thank you for measuring the top of the rail to top of the catwalk on the roof SMILE. can the caboose be lower to like half inch ? I'm using it behind my railking challenger. Its sure NICE to hear from other women in this forums for change (too many guys in here LOL) !!!!!  SMILE.

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hello Gilly@N&W..........

 do you have a picture of the non-scale lionel baywindow caboose that you have forsale ?  Whats the measurements from the top of the rail to the catwalks on the roof if you don't mind ?  

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hello Gilly@N&W.........

E-mail sent to you..........

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hi again Tiffany,

Thanks for the kind words.   Sorry if I caused confusion with my measurements though. The 3.25 inches is to the catwalk on the main roof sections, and the 3.75 inches is to the top of the cupola roof.  I think that these models work well with most locomotives and rolling stock, as mine runs with everything from my 1951 '2046 Hudson' to my modern diesels. (It does look a teensy bit lost behind my DD35A though.)

Compared to other other rolling stock, the catwalks are slightly lower than that on a sprung bogied boxcar, and almost exactly the same hight as the roof on a starter-set passenger car. (I compared the caboose to the 'Helicopter spares' boxcar from an NYC flyer set, and the coaches from the matching passenger expansion set.) 

Nicole.

Hello Nicole (N.Q.D.Y)

your'e very welcome SMILE. I am impressed you have a scale size DD35A, that's one big monster of a engine !  That williams caboose would surly be TINY behind one of those double diesels !! YIKES !!!!!!!!! LOL.   I hope this williams caboose would look right at home behind my semi-scale Challenger. I am to pick it up next monday and hope can lower the caboose at least half inch, can it be done? Nicole do you have a operating layout ?

the woman who loves toy trains 

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany,

Yes, the DD35A is a bit of a monster, but it runs beautifully and sounds wonderful. Although it does only give about 2 miles to the gallon on smoke fluid.

I don't think that the Williams caboose will look wrong behind your challenger. It looks fine behind my 1951 vintage 'short' Hudson. I'd be surprised if you need to lower it really.

I have a temporary 15' x 5', 2 loop layout at present, until I can build some new benchwork to completely fill my spare room. Not much to look at, but I can sit there and run my trains while I build up my track supplies and stock. (I have to get everything 'Lionel' posted to me from the USA, so it takes a while.)

If it will help, I've added a couple of photographs of a Williams caboose together with various O27 and scale items?

Nicole.

Hello Nicole.........

"Although it does only give about 2 miles to the gallon on smoke fluid"  that's really funny  !!!!!!! .   WOW  15 by 5 ft, 2 loop layout and you build your own benchwork !!!! (there are few women who can do that).   I wish i could run my railking challenger and cars on your layout as i dont have a layout due to living in 850 sq. ft. apt for almost 8 years and the living room is just big enough for a 0-72 oval on the floor carpet but its better than nothing !!!!! LOL.   We are saving for down payment for mobile home then can build a small one room layout.   Do you have a friend who has a railking challenger or big boy and take picture of the williams caboose behind it if possible ?

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany. 

Sorry that I can't help on pictures with a Challenger. I'm the only 'O' modeller that I know in this area.  I'm sure that there must be someone on this forum who can help in that respect though?

Don't be too impressed by may benchwork skills. It's all built in small modular sections that are held together by removable pin hinges, and the boards all rest upon Ikea square shelf units that make great supports with storage space built in. I decided to build a layout again after surviving some rather nasty surgery and chemo-treatment a couple of years ago. That's where NQDY comes from. When i was in hospital I had some t-shirts made-up that read NQDY in a similar style to the DKNY t-shirts. (NQDY= Not quite dead yet!)

Ooops!  Sorry all for waffling on. 

Nicole.

Hello Nicole (NQDY)..........

How CLEVER of you to thought of that (Not Quite Dead Yet) !!!!  .  I am sorry you had chemo-treatment and surgery, my husband has bone cancer stage 4 and he goes through infusion treatments once a month.  He's doing well, I THANK GOD for that as hes the only family i have left SIGH.  Do you have a favorite train ? Mine is a railking challenger and 7 operating railking cars and 7 regular cars,  trying to find a semi-scale caboose to go with it as most of the railking cabooses look too big LOLOL. 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Digging through the cases now looking for the Cabeese. I wouldn't do this for just anyone......

Hello Gilly@N&W..........

I understand.......... is there something or favor i can do for you ?

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

You have an email.

Gilly

Hello Gilly@N&W........

E-mail sent, (replied) THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany,

I have several favourite trains. Way to many to go into here.  But if you'd like to correspond outside of the forum, my email is on my profile?

Nicole.

Hello Nicole.........

no, that's ok.......... how about this, if you were to choose ONE engine and set of cars, which one would you pick ?  I just have ONE railking train (challenger and cars) and that's my favorite the reason for this is that i do my own servicing on the engine and cars myself and having too many engines is a hassle when it come to do maintences. ONE engine is enough as it easier for me that way SMILE.............

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Good morning Tiffany,

In that case, it would have to be my old '2046' Hudson.

I discovered that languishing in a dusty corner of my LHS, and decided to bring it back to life. It was in a very sorry state, and I was told that it hadn't been running since the early '70s. But after stripping it down to its component pieces, cleaning every part, replacing the bulb, brushes and springs, rebuilding the e-unit (That WAS fun!) and then putting it all back together, it sprang to life with a growl and dimmed the lights in 3 counties as parts that hadn't moved in 40 years overcame their habitual inertia and discovered the wonders of lubrication.

It now runs proudly at the head of my Pullman service, and works beautifully. The original smoke unit is amazing too, as it puffs out enough smoke (Using Mega-steam.) to cause alarm to my neighbours and nearby aircraft, and runs for days on one filling. I still need to replace the whistle in the tender, as this seems to be beyond repair and emits only the faintest of sighs that are drowned out by the death rattle of the fan motor.

Nicole.

GOOD MORNING NICOLE !!!!!!!!!!!

I LIKE your GOOD sense of humor !!!!!!!!!  I hope we can be GOOD friends .  I used to have a postwar 2046 way back in 1980's and paid 140 dollars for it in good running condition and don't know what ever happen to it but it too needed a good cleaning (brushes, removing the cat hair, fixing e-unit tab (loose) few drops of oil and grease and ran well.  Nicole by chance are you British if so, I am too as i am Mr. Bean fan and my hubby HATES Mr.Bean because he acts DUMB !!!!but i feel sorry for the poor chump SMILE.  My last name was Spencer before i tied the knot.  In 1995 my mum told me that my 3rd cousin was princess Diana (NOT KIDDING) but i never met her in person. 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Sounds like the lower motor bearing needs oil.  The Whistle tender motors need the same work the engines usually do and a lot of people forget (or don't realize it's there) the lower  bearing.

Hi  Jake,

Yes, I'm pretty sure it's the lower bearing on the whistle fan motor that is the trouble. But I think that this one may be beyond salvation. I've lubricated it thoroughly, but to no avail. I think that it may have last been lubricated at the factory back in '51, as it was drier than the Atacama desert when I inspected it.

Still, it gives me another little project to work on.

Hi Tiffany,

You are quite correct, I'm British to the core. I too look forward to becoming good friends.  'Mr Bean's holiday' is one of my favourite films by the way. A long long time ago I used to move in more elevated circles, but none so grand as you may have by the sound of things. As I remind any who may tell me that Britain has lost its empire, Oh no we haven't, we know exactly where it is. 

Hello Nicole............

BIG SMILE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! .  I seen that movie too, in my opinion the Mr.Bean movie shorts is funny like putting a chair on top of his wee car (mini cooper) or putting pad lock outside of the door, getting the final key from the trunk of the car to start the engine just to name a few. I wonder if Mr. Bean is into model trains ?  Do you have some railking engines ? 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

Hi Tiffany,

As far as I know, Mr Atkinson is more into cars than trains, but we can hope. No, I'm sorry, but I don't have any Railking locomotives. Mine are all Lionel apart from one Williams. (And LGB in my garden, and a lot of Hornby packed away in boxes.)

Nicole.