sunset announces the D&RGW L-105

Austin Bill posted:

Several of us tried to get Scott to do a black steam era caboose along with the L-131.  Maybe this time?

As we have discussed many, many, MANY times, CORRECT caboose models have simply gotten WAY TOO expensive to make, each time a new steam locomotive is issued. There just doesn't. seem to be enough customers for ACCURATE $400+ caboose models! 

Keep a look out for the Division Point, OMI, and Joint Line(DVP/Berlyn) samples they show up from time to time on eBay and Brasstrains. 

Hot Water, yes we have.  But, that was a while back, really before the L-131 was produced.  Who knows, now with the L-105 possibly adding to the demand.  Nothing ventured.  Nothing gained.  Seems to me.  

And at the price point for the L-131 and now an even higher MSRP for the L-105 perhaps an "over $400" price tag for an "accurate" (your words) might work.  Can't hurt to ask.

 So, Scott, how about considering one?  Maybe you could put out a feeler with a price and see what happens.  Noting ventured, nothing gained.

Maybe I've been looking in the wrong places and have surely missed some for sale.  But my experience over the past two years has been black steam era "accurate" cabooses are rare as hen's teeth and very pricey. I've seen them go for way over $400.

Norm updated and some new offerings are up for reservation, but not the L-105. Are anniversary series only available through Scott?

For the 3-rail crowd, Sunset represent the only potential maker of a brass, scale (albeit the running gear) caboose. It me 3 years of searching to find a DM&IR caboose to match the Yellowstone.

Here are a few pics of 3rd rail cabooses (also a N&W caboose by Weaver)

Just got the input I was looking for and updated our ordering to 5 different versions. I am sure Norm's will follow as soon as I send them the info.

Looking to get 100 orders so we can get this on the roster for 2018. If you liked the L-131...

Scott - China

Erik.  A belated thanks for the info.  Turns out I figured out that  the Division Point, OMI, and Joint Line(DVP/Berlyn) Grande Cabooses - done a long time ago and in small quantities are just about the only game in town in brass.  And I frequently check the sources you mentioned and others.  But, thanks all the same. I'll drop cabooses on this topic since it's really about the L-105.  But, just wish someone would do an accurate Grande steam era caboose in brass or plastic as long as it's well done and accurate.

Thanks, Scott! Norm helps me accommodate my shipping dates, I have to travel to the US every time I get a high end engine due to import taxes in Colombia being so high. It's literally cheaper for me to travel and to bring them with me. I suppose my next trip will encompass your Rocket TA and the L-105. Thank you!

Just picked this up on ebay.  Nice MTH 20-91015 NIB DM&IR caboose.

Will go nice with my M-4.  Haven't check but it seems like there should be some nice non brass D&RG cabeese available.

samparfitt posted:

Just picked this up on ebay.  Nice MTH 20-91015 NIB DM&IR caboose.

That is a 3-Rail Santa Fe caboose painted & lettered for DM&IR, thus it is NOT prototypically correct.

Will go nice with my M-4.  Haven't check but it seems like there should be some nice non brass D&RG cabeese available.

Since your M-4 Yellowstone is also 3-Rail, and if you are not all that interested in prototypical accuracy, I suppose any old caboose could work? 

My HO: accurate.

Custom painted and lighted interior and marker lights.

3 rail: close enough for 'now': In HO, I can, virtually, get anything that I want.  In O gauge, it's extremely limited.  I'd rather have something close running behind my engine than no caboose.  If something comes along later, I can buy that and sell the old one.

I just placed my reservation with Norm, very excited. Confident I'll be pleased.

I'm considering one of these three versions:

3. Green Boiler, Chevron, Flying Rio Grande Lettering (Green 1941)
4. Black Boiler, Chevron, Early Lettering (Black Early)
5. Black Boiler, Chevron, Flying Rio Grande Lettering (Black Late)

I like the idea of #4, but would like to know the dates each of the versions would be seen. Can anyone give me a reference or some dates for each version? Thank you.

After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the Rising Sun was changed to Chevrons on the L-105s in late 1941, early 1942. The boilers were still Green.

Shortly there after the boilers were painted Black when shopped, and the tender lettering was changed to Flying Rio Grande after WWII.

During the War these details changed from engine to engine, and I am not sure if anyone knows exactly when they were changed.

So it's up to the individual whether you want the mixed early and late configs or not.

Scott

Thank you Scott, you saved me a lot of time.

I would definitely purchase several steam-era black steel cabooses. Perhaps they could even have raised numbers (the originals had cast numbers on the sides).

Let's not let this thread go lukewarm 🙃

One of my favorite locomotives 

3700 class working upgrade south of Castle Rock November 11th 1954  

Photo courtesy: Western collection Denver Public Library by Otto Perry

Flat cars loaded with pipe........destined for Farmington, NM gas fields?  To be hauled on the narrow gauge out of Alamosa?

http://digital.denverlibrary.o.../order/nosort/ad/asc

Tons of great photos of the L-105 - all liveries - 

Denver Public Library (key words "Otto Perry" "4-6-6-4")

Pinch my nipples I love this pic! 

My favorite L105 photo, too. Otto Perry masterpiece.  Wondering what train he was pulling - troop train (?), but the express reefers don't quite make sense.

I know, Mark! This picture for instance is catalogued as the Scenic Limited, but the Burlington Bulletin for the Exposition Flyer says it's the Expo..... Hmmm

Santiago, dont make it weird

Any news on the upcoming model from Sunset? Enough reserves?

Erik C Lindgren posted:

One of my L-105’s on the OMI Pin Connected Bridge. I took these 7-8 months ago; I don’t have any others on my cloud at this time. 

I really enjoy your work.

Dick

Thanks Dick 

EBN posted:

http://digital.denverlibrary.o.../order/nosort/ad/asc

 

Tons of great photos of the L-105 - all liveries - 

 

Denver Public Library (key words "Otto Perry" "4-6-6-4")

 

 

There are some great photos here, thanks for posting this.  Curiously, L-105 #3700 is shown in-service without the “box” on the front pilot.  While I’m not very knowledgeable about this engine, there appears to be two sand domes for their respective engines on the boiler so what is the box on the pilot, another supplemental sand box?  Why was it missing in the photo? Tia

Christopher Cinque posted:  

There are some great photos here, thanks for posting this.  Curiously, L-105 #3700 is shown in-service without the “box” on the front pilot.  While I’m not very knowledgeable about this engine, there appears to be two sand domes for their respective engines on the boiler so what is the box on the pilot, another supplemental sand box?  Why was it missing in the photo? Tia

Isn't that a water brake? Recall reading something about it long ago.

BobbyD posted:

Christopher Cinque posted:  

There are some great photos here, thanks for posting this.  Curiously, L-105 #3700 is shown in-service without the “box” on the front pilot.  While I’m not very knowledgeable about this engine, there appears to be two sand domes for their respective engines on the boiler so what is the box on the pilot, another supplemental sand box?  Why was it missing in the photo? Tia

Isn't that a water brake? Recall reading something about it long ago.

No, that "box" is not the "Water Brake".

Oh, boy...the second of my favorite road's monumental power, and l am only modeling a shortline with a Grande connection and helper siding, so acquiring another to only sit on the siding makes no sense.  What about Exposition Flyer cars? Has anybody made those?  I have looked for the DM&lR caboose, also, but only the side door version, not seen lately. 

D&RGW L-105

samparfitt posted:

D&RGW L-105

 

I’ll assume this is the coveted Key L-105.  Absolutely gorgeous!  It concerns me though that the front “box” (Anyone know what function it serves?) that the chevrons are on appears to be bent back.  Hope I’m wrong about that.  

Chris

samparfitt is an HO modeler, and that is an HO model on his beautiful, large layout.

colorado hirailer posted:

Oh, boy...the second of my favorite road's monumental power, and l am only modeling a shortline with a Grande connection and helper siding, so acquiring another to only sit on the siding makes no sense.  What about Exposition Flyer cars? Has anybody made those?  I have looked for the DM&lR caboose, also, but only the side door version, not seen lately. 

There are some cars available by default. But a select group of cars has not been done intentionally as a group. Here are some of mine:

That is an additional sand container on the pilot deck. The reason that some photos of L105's appear w/o the container is that the Grande added them perhaps a year after delivery of the locomotives. Some of the L131/132's also received the additional sand container on the pilot deck a number of years after going into service. The water brake apparatus would be seen on the cylinders.

You Guys ROCK! Was soo inspired by this thread that I went ahead and ordered the Green Flying Rio Grande L-105!

Chris,

Correct.  That's a Key, factory painted black but I added the green boiler.  Also, painted the cab interior.

I believe the front box held sand.  Being an articulated engine, having the sand on the front engine prevented having to have some kind of moving pipes from the sand dome to the drivers.

Also, have the L-131.

PFM HO version:

This one was unpainted from the 'factory'.  

3rd Rail version:

My last D&RGW engine is the M-68 4-8-4, yet to be painted with a green boiler.

I'm GN but I've always liked the L-105 and L-131 and the M-68 will look good with a green boiler.