Scale N&W Caboose

Agreed, however it is probably easier to find a Weaver brass N&W scale caboose, then trying to convince either Lionel or MTH, or even Atlas, to produce one.

Yes please!

Absolutely. It would be a fine way for Golden Gate to get into the plastic caboose market (although the likely price would set off the moaners...). Lionel coulda shoulda done one to go with their Legacy Y6b.

Weaver did them in brass (I think both wood and steel; mine is steel). Maybe Yoder...

Otherwise, for a few pleasurable evenings of work there is the Quality Craft kit.

Or, Brother Love could make one for you

Most definitely!  I would love 1 or 2.

I've brought this up last year when Malcolm started his. I had printed 2 dozen sets of decals and sent him, I believe 2 sets, to help him finish his project. 

If in the price range of a Lionel, Atlas or MTH caboose I'd be in for at least 3 CF and 2 CG versions.

Joe

Now that Lionel is in the process of releasing PRR N5b cabin cars and GLa hoppers I'm  hoping they will continue the trend with N&W early steel side cabeese and the equally important, correct N&W 2-bay hoppers. I will commit to every piece and 3-pack.

Alas, in a boardroom somewhere there is a Pee Wee Herman-like person with his or her hands over their ears singing..."La la la la I can't hear you"!

I Fifth the Motion for a Lionel Standard O Scale N&W Caboose...Possibly 1 or 2 versions...

Thanks for Posting, Great Thread....Happy Railroading....

The Virginian had steel cabooses that externally were almost identical to N&W's. If someone makes the N&W cabooses they need to add some Virginian's to the production run.

There must be several thousand N&W Y6b, Y6a, Y3, and Class A engines out there. It seems like there'd be more interest in a caboose.

I can't be counted on to buy one, though, as I have a bunch that were done in brass.

I would be good for two.

I have had one of the N&W cabs "almost finished" for sometime now. I have 6 more that have been cut out and I plan to build one of those in "flat" components and try my hand at casting it (no guarantees!!!)

All of these have been sidelined in order to finished confirmed orders. I am hoping to get back to them in the fall. There may be other manufacturers that will introduce them before I get through with these but I am trying to get back to them.

Malcolm

Assuming any of these will be for sale, how do I get my name "on the list"?

Malcolm, thanks for the email.

eMail Malcolm directly. His eMail address is in his profile.

I'm glad to hear that Malcolm is considering trying the casting route for at least the main components. I had offered to make the molds and do the casting if he was interested. 

I do have 24 sets of decals, each set capable of completing to cabooses. If interested.

Joe

Malcolm,

I thought of you when I read Tom's post, then I scrolled down to read your post.

As always you are OUTSTANDING!!!
Ralph

Anyone have some scale drawings and photos of the N&W prototype caboose? I would like to build one in O.  Maybe use some components from MTH.

Woodside or steelside? Which model?

Help: At least I need photos and some scale dimensions to start with.

steelside shown.

The N&W Historical Society should have drawings for sale. I bought drawings for an upcoming project with Malcolm from them.

Here is a woodside N&W prototype. This one would be easy to build.  Need the dimensions of the wheelbase for this one.

Another N&W caboose. 

Another N&W caboose. Steel riveted sides.

If you're looking for an in depth construction, with scale drawings and step by step photos of a CF caboose, I recommend O Scale Trains magazine. An article, by the late editor, Joe Giannovario. was published in the May/June 2005, Issue # 20. See attached link below. 

http://oscalemag.com/wordpress/covers-contents-1-59/

It's a free PDF of that issue, featuring the scratch building of an N&W class CF wood sided caboose with a steel underframe. The prototypes were built in the N&W shops, and while giving a fragile impression, were quite stout designs. They could be seen frequently bringing up the rear of a long coal drag being pushed by a Y6B helper.

Hope this helps. I also have decals for sale if you should reach that point.

Joe

I tried the link I supplied above, didn't work. Sorry, try going to the OST home page:

http://oscalemag.com

Go to Downloads, drop down menu, Covers & Contents: #1-#59. All the free downloads of the magazine issues are there. Issue #20 contains the how to build article.

If your not familiar with the magazine, it's an excellent publication worth checking out.

Joe

Here is the link to the N&W caboose PDF. It can be downloaded and saved as a PDF.

http://www.oscalemag.com/docs/ost_20.pdf

I was lucky enough to own the Division Point 2-Rail brass model of the N&W CF caboose for a time. I sold it back off when it became clear finding enough correct N&W hoppers for a coal drag would be next to impossible. One of the big manufacturers has a guaranteed home run by filling this void with something accurate and affordable.

Good job pro hobby! I see you were able follow my suggestion and go to OST and find the issue. Thanks for the credit! I'm surprised that no one has commented on that excellent publication. 

Unfortunately, if we're looking for one of the major manufacturers to produce a CF or CG caboose, we'll need more than 2 dozen confirmed purchases. Looks like Malcolm or some other enterprising individual could do ok if scratch building one could be simplified and produced in quantity. Maybe... create a master pattern, latex molds, and resin reproductions to assemble by the buyer. Kitbash with an existing frame, trucks and couplers. Detailed as much as the builder desires.

finding enough correct N&W hoppers for a coal drag would be next to impossible

Ain't that the truth! We especially need steam-era 3-bay (I don't care which class-they all look alike).

Perhaps an enterprising manufacturer could come up with a set including a caboose. "If you make it, they will come"

Well said Rex! I've got 2 Lionel Y6bs and no cars or a caboose to pull behind them. This is not rocket science people! Get a hold of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society, they've got archives of drawings that could be used. 

Not it to switch gears but a Legacy Class A would be the sprinkles on the cake Lionel! 

or...the 8 page, step by step article in O Scale Trains magazine issue #20. It's a downloadable PDF.

Could be done if someone made the masters.

finding enough correct N&W hoppers for a coal drag would be next to impossible

Huh?  Lots have been made and lots of exceptional models have been imported in brass.  Even the old IMP hoppers from the '50s make decent N&W hoppers and there are some dry transfer sets available from Clover House that dress these up nicely.  Not everything comes in an orange, purple or blue box,

mwb: yes, there are tons of N&W-ish brass 2-bay hoppers out there. Three-bay? Not so much, and they typically go for large dollars, particularly in recent releases.. I've managed to acquire five of them, in various states of disrepair. Sitting in the project que..

I intend to build the N&W woodside caboose shown in the OST magazine feature. Will use MTH caboose parts where possible.  Anyone else building this caboose?  Compare notes on construction.

Could make some epoxy sides and roof to build multiple copies.

Comments appreciated.

Added 5 more to the N&W group. Will get them cut out by tonight.

Huh?  Lots have been made and lots of exceptional models have been imported in brass.  Even the old IMP hoppers from the '50s make decent N&W hoppers and there are some dry transfer sets available from Clover House that dress these up nicely.  Not everything comes in an orange, purple or blue box,

Yeah? Well where are they all if so many got made? I certainly didn't see 10 or 20 out there readily available and ready to run. I know you champion the DIY route, but unfortunately we don't all have the time or money to chase down rare expensive brass imports or put together and decal a kit. In this case, no Rufus, we actually do need an affordable bulk set in an orange, purple, or blue box. No two ways about it.

Just gotta keep up the pressure on the big manufacturers. Like everything else that is constantly requested by a large enough group, it'll eventually get made.

Originally Posted by mwb:

Huh?  Lots have been made and lots of exceptional models have been imported in brass.  Even the old IMP hoppers from the '50s make decent N&W hoppers and there are some dry transfer sets available from Clover House that dress these up nicely.  Not everything comes in an orange, purple or blue box,

Yeah? Well where are they all if so many got made? I certainly didn't see 10 or 20 out there readily available and ready to run. I know you champion the DIY route, but unfortunately we don't all have the time or money to chase down rare expensive brass imports or put together and decal a kit. In this case, no Rufus, we actually do need an affordable bulk set in an orange, purple, or blue box. No two ways about it.

Good point, Nick. I realize I have seen the occasional CORRECT N&W 2-Bay coal hopper on eBay, at the tune of over $400 EACH! Now, being old an my math might not be all that good but, spending north of $20,000 for a 50 car N&W coal train, just doesn't seem appropriate, nor logical, to me. Even if I could locate THAT many cars anyway.

My C&O 65 car hopper train, made up of all MTH 2-Bays, of various types, really has been a crowd pleaser when I used to attend shows with our modular group. Plus, at about $30 per car, or less, over about 2 or 3 years, I didn't have to take out a second mortgage on the house.

the occasional CORRECT N&W 2-Bay coal hopper on eBay

I feel so ignorant. What is wrong about the Atlas car (except weight)? Must I sell off my painfully gathered fleet to await perfection?

50 and 65 car trains? I wish...

I don't know who I would trust to do a proper N&W steam era cab in plastic. You would think that Atlas would be a name at the top of the list as they make some fine models. However, Atlas couldn't even get the N&W diesel era cab correct.

We need a good affordable N&W steam era cab, not some generic knockoff.

Originally Posted by mwb:

Huh?  Lots have been made and lots of exceptional models have been imported in brass.  Even the old IMP hoppers from the '50s make decent N&W hoppers and there are some dry transfer sets available from Clover House that dress these up nicely.  Not everything comes in an orange, purple or blue box,

Yeah? Well where are they all if so many got made? I certainly didn't see 10 or 20 out there readily available and ready to run. I know you champion the DIY route, but unfortunately we don't all have the time or money to chase down rare expensive brass imports or put together and decal a kit. In this case, no Rufus, we actually do need an affordable bulk set in an orange, purple, or blue box. No two ways about it.

 

Just gotta keep up the pressure on the big manufacturers. Like everything else that is constantly requested by a large enough group, it'll eventually get made.

I sold all of my IMP hoppers off about 3 years ago except for 1 that I need to reletter for N&W.

Go to the Chicago show in April next year or Indy in Sept and those will be around.  You want accurate scale ones you had to be there when the ones from Yoder, Kohs, and PSC were being pre-ordered and now you're stuck on the secondary market if you want the better items.  Again, go to Chicago or Indy - they are out there.

....just doesn't seem appropriate, nor logical, to me.

When did an of this ever have to qualify as appropriate?  And forget about logical,   That ship sailed a long time ago.  This hobby embraces irrational.

If you want the better accurate scale stuff, it can be found.  But not by singing cheap, cheap, cheap.   Call up Bill Davis, Norm Pullen, or here at Alleghany Scale Models:

http://alleghenyscale.com/O%20...20Freight%20Cars.htm

Scroll down to hoppers - bunch of Yoder hoppers. 

There you go again with those stratosphere priced hoppers! As HW said, twenty grand is more than most of us can afford.