Pennsy N5 plastic caboose, will we ever get one?

What is sad about mfg's Not tooling for this type of cabin car is the fact that not just the PRR and all it's versions

 but other RR's had them too such as the LIRR, B&M, Sou, PC, CR, AMTK and others that I can't think of.

Is the Williams N5c caboose considered plastic? If so then you have many N5C cabooses to choose from.  FYI, the N5c caboose is the only caboose made by WBB!!

Lee Fritz

Also Lionel postwar 536417.

N5 is a different caboose and has square windows,

N5c is the Lionel Postwar porthole caboose.

(We sure don't need any more of those!!)

other RR's had them too . . . and others that I can't think of

One of those would be Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL).

Scratchbuilding a PRR N5 caboose.

(Early N5 versions including N5B)

I plan to scratchbuild a body for a PRR N5 using an MTH underbody, steps and interior.  I want to reuse as much as possible of an N5C caboose. 

Dimensions of the MTH N5C caboose: 

scale wheelbase 17 feet- 9 inches,

scale roof 30 feet 6 inches,

scale over strikers 29 feet - 9 inches

Dimensions of proto N5B caboose:

wheelbase 19 feet- 0 inches,

roof 31 feet 3/4 inches,

over strikers 30 feet - 9 inches 7-1/2 inches

The N5 Cabin Car (caboose) was the most popular of the Pennsylvania Railroad
fleet and the first all-steel cabin car used by any railroad.  Built originally
in 1914, more than six hundred N5 cabin cars were produced with many surviving
into the 1960s.

Why bother? There are many VERY nice N5 brass models, from the 2-Rail Scale world, out there, for VERY reasonable prices.

Years ago before N8 cabin cars were available i made one using a N5c. It was a bit easier as i could use the entire roof and cupola from the N5c.

What i did was to sand the entire body of the N5c smooth; then using .010" sheet styrene made complete N8 sides with square windows and appropriate frames; did the rivet detail using a ponce wheel (doing this today, i'd use the rivet decals that are available from MicroMark & others); then i laminated the new .010" N8 style sides to the N5c body with a contact adhesive. Grab irons, bumping posts, marker lamps, etc. then added.

This technique might be appropriate for your project. Good luck and keep us informed.

jackson

Not plastic but it is the right one made of brass....http://www.ebay.com/itm/Williams-PRR-Brass-N5-Caboose-RARE-/141090058900?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item20d99f7294

That really isn't an outrageous price for a brass, correct, PRR N5 caboose. 

True.  But just how "correct" and accurate is this Williams car vs. the prototype?

To me the williams cabin in the photo does not appear to be as good a model as it could be.   First, it appears to have Andrews trucks, which I don't think ever were put on N5 of any kind.    Second the car appears to be a modernized N5 or an N5B because of the collision posts and the modern brake stand and handrails on the ends.  However, it does not have the protruding platforms which were done when the collision posts were added.   Also the stack is located for a modern car but is the old fashioned stack, not the one appearing in the photos of the modernized cars.   That paint job which is "modern" would also have  yellow handrails.    As a modernized car, it should have slightly rounded corners on the window frames.   And finally the antennas appeara too tall.   This is my opinions on the car and your decision should be based on whether of these details are important to you.

For my taste, I would look for a Max Grey, a Carworks, or an NJCB version.   I understand Sunset did a nice one at one time too.

Also note that the N5B which looks almost identical to the N5 was about 1 foot longer both wheelbase and body.  

For some overall dimensions, check out this website:

http://prr.railfan.net/freight/PRRdiagrams.html

there are copies of PRR equipment diagrams there and the N5, N5A (only 5), and N5B with some photos and overall dimensions.  

As a guess, I am going to say the N5C underframe would be a pretty good representation for the older N5 versions.

Here is the Williams BRaxss N5c vs. the Car works N5's. Compare for yourself!

I would be in for 2 N5s.  MTH Premier, and I will take one in B&M maroon and one in B&M blue, please.

Dick,

I believe the Lionel models you are referring to are N5C cabin cars with the porthole windows and the raked (or "streamlined") cupola.  What many of us are looking for is the N5 with square windows and vertical (right angle) cupola.  While the Pennsy itself had both, other roads such as Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines had a bunch of N5 cabin cars but zero N5C's. 

And a PRSL version, please? With the original PRSL initials, not the fancy circle symbol. Thank you!

Guy

While that might be interesting to do, I'd rather compare them against prototype drawings, plans, and photos.

Wonder if the Sou N5 was the same -- The PRR N5 had a very different roof line. While some PRR N5's had fabricated steps, most had the usual Pennsy cast steps. Most of the so-called restored cabin cars have fabricated steps now because the cast ones got a good dollar at the scrap dealer's.

jackson