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IMG_1286Hello all! I recently bought an awesome (to me atleast) CP Rail smoking and lighted caboose off eBay for $44 shipped! It was in brand new condition and appears to work perfectly. The only thing that worries me, I've been reading on them and the problem of possibly melting through the plastic body or heat soak on the side closest to the smoke generator is an apparent issue with these cabooses. Apparently this one was made in the early 90's, or late 80's (correct me if wrong) and I'm not sure how it will like the newer power systems of today. I'm currently using CW-80 transformers on my layout. I'm 21 so this is my first shot at an actual layout and really just starting in this hobby. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on this type of caboose, and if there is any precautions I should take before operating it on the layout for long periods of time? Thanks!!

"Picture is the same caboose I currently have, but I did pull picture from Internet as I was being lazy and didn't want to walk downstairs" 

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Hi I find that the melt down on these is guys use them with full track power. Most of the early ones were designed for conventual running and not command in mind. 

Running conventual you had less voltage to the track. Now in command were putting full voltage to track causing meltdown on that older equipment.

Can be fixed by putting in a resistor that can handle the full voltage.

I'll have to look into that, I do believe it has a 1 ohm resistor in it currently (according to Lionel's replacement parts page). Would the CW-80 transformer cause problems though considering it's a "conventional" style transformer or is it still much stronger than the equipment that was around the time this caboose was produced?

Which transformer you use will not make a difference.  Its the amount of voltage you apply to the track that will possibly cause a problem.  When running in conventional mode, you typically have about 12 volts going to the track.  If you run command engines, you turn the transformer to max output - 18 volts.  18 volts will overheat the smoke unit and cause problems.  If you are running conventional, you will be fine.  If you run in command mode, I would upgrade the caboose and add a command board from Electric Railroad in there so you can set the voltage to 12 volts even though the track is set at 18.

Last edited by Joe Fermani

I'll have to look into doing that just to be safe. After looking it up the CW80 runs 0-18 volts so it could still happen that way. I wonder if it would also be benificial to add some "protection" to the caboose and put some type of heat shielding inside of it though also, right on the roof above it and the sides maybe 

Joe Fermani posted:

Which transformer you use will not make a difference.  Its the amount of voltage you apply to the track that will possibly cause a problem.  When running in conventional mode, you typically have about 12 volts going to the track.  If you run command engines, you turn the transformer to max output - 18 volts.  18 volts will overheat the smoke unit and cause problems.  If you are running conventional, you will be fine.  If you run in command mode, I would upgrade the caboose and add a command board from Electric Railroad in there so you can set the voltage to 12 volts even though the track is set at 18.

Dead on! Man you guys are good!Nick

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