Tail End Tuesday

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

I have both the plastic and die cast versions. Here’s a coupla pictures. Die cast caboose has never been out of it box before tonight. I forgot I had it, until the question was asked of Mel. Die cast version has the lighter color, clear windows, and brakeman in the cupola.

The die-cast version is MTH Railking 30-8501, also delivered in 1999 and priced at $49.95 - just $10 more than the plastic version. Although its a Railking product, the die-cast version has added-on wire grab irons instead of molded-in as on the plastic version, also an interior, and looks more like a Premier product. MTH is in the process of making updated plastic versions of these cabooses. I have several on order. My plastic version has accumulated many hours of run time.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

The die-cast version is MTH Railking 30-8501, also delivered in 1999 and priced at $49.95 - just $10 more than the plastic version. Although its a Railking product, the die-cast version has added-on wire grab irons instead of molded-in as on the plastic version, also an interior, and looks more like a Premier product. MTH is in the process of making updated plastic versions of these cabooses. I have several on order. My plastic version has accumulated many hours of run time.

MELGAR

Thanks for noticing, Mel. I failed to appreciate the added on grab rails, and, I believe the (just noticed) firecracker antenna is an anachronism.

Have a good TET all. PW Lionel making it out of the Mountain.

Well hello everyone, welcome back to T.E.T. @Sitka - let me compliment you on your night shots,  Although the cabooses are neat, I loved the cows and the milk platform in the foreground, neat photo.

Today I have assembled a few shots from my archives to keep things moving.  First, after all you folks presented your beautiful scale and sometimes die cast NYC cabooses, let me show you one that's close to 90 years old but a "model" of the same type caboose.  This is the Lionel # 1682 NYC lithographed caboose from 1933-1942.  The blackened journal covers mark this specimen to the later part of that period.  Note the lithographed "wood" sides and window sills.  Mr. Cowen did not like lithography, especially before the post war period, as he felt it was "cheap" looking compared with his beautiful enameled finishes on his top lines.  However, the depression and wide spread unemployment forced his hand into creating lower price point trains or go out of business.

By the way...this guy even came with his original box!!  Not bad for 80-90 years old.

In the same time period, Lionel took over the Ives line of trains.  In 1932 they produced this caboose but with the name "Ives" in the black circles.  In 1933 Lionel ceased production of Ives trains and transitioned these well designed cars to "Lionel" by substituting the name Lionel in the black circle (as shown below).  Although (perhaps because of his pride), these cars were never shown in the Lionel catalog  but they were used in numerous low end "outfits" as Lionel called its "sets".  

As a change from all the NYC cabooses, how about a PRR caboose.  This is the Lionel (MPC) #19807 PRR "extended vision" caboose from 1988.  This guy is a SMOKER!  with a smoke unit inside exhausting through that large diameter stack in the roof.

Happy Tuesday, hope you are having a great week

Best Wishes

Don

Central Railroad of New Jersey model caboose #91530 was made by MTH. I run it behind my Atlas O model of CNJ #107, a USRA 0-6-0 steam engine.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Ron,

NYC #19654 is an MTH Railking plastic caboose (30-7721) that sold for $39.95 when it was released in 1998.

MELGAR

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Mel, hope I’m not stepping on your toes. I have both the plastic and die cast versions. Here’s a coupla pictures. Die cast caboose has never been out of it box before tonight. I forgot I had it, until the question was asked of Mel. Die cast version has the lighter color, clear windows, and brakeman in the cupola.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

That's a good looking caboose Mel.

I've had one just like that in the back of my mind but for the Pennsy.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Here ya go, Dallas. Rugged Rails 33-7801

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Now if I can hire a second story man I can finally get one.

Thanks for sharing the photo Mark.

Thanks goes out to a fine forum member Mark V. Spadaro for sending the Pennsy version.

I added one interior LED and two red LEDs for markers . Added some paint touches .   DOWNSIDE.......... Hope value wasn't decreased.

UPSIDE  ...........I don't have this one in the back of my mind anymore and I didn't have to hire a second story man after all.     

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Thanks goes out to a fine forum member Mark V. Spadaro for sending the Pennsy version.

I added one interior LED and two red LEDs for markers . Added some paint touches .   DOWNSIDE.......... Hope value wasn't decreased.

UPSIDE  ...........I don't have this one in the back of my mind anymore and I didn't have to hire a second story man after all.     

Beautiful job, Dallas! As a "Dyed in the Wool" street-rodder, I've never thought much of "trailer queens," however stunning. Far as I'm concerned, it's not a "street" rod if you don't drive it on the streets. Same with model railroading. If you've got it, run it. It's not "model railroading" if your "model" never sees the "rails." And if you can make it better, go for it.

I guess you'd have to make an exception for pieces like the '38 700E Hudson, though...

Happy TeT, everyone. Lionel 2531 rolling by while folks are getting ready for Memorial Day weekend. Get your grill fired up and have a great Memorial Day.

Bob

Thanks for the thanks, Dallas. Everybody appreciates appreciation.
NYC Premier Woodside Caboose in the Pacemaker scheme. Purchased from another member.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Thanks for the thanks, Dallas. Everybody appreciates appreciation.
NYC Premier Woodside Caboose in the Pacemaker scheme. Purchased from another member.

Like the clear windows at the top.  Good looking caboose.

Here's my rear for what's left of this fine Tuesday!!

Great shot Skip

Tail End Tuesday Indeed. Yesterday, Tuesday my office (University of Illinois Office of Technology Management) had a retirement lunch for me. I was in to help transfer my portfolio of technologies to two new technology managers.  Friday is my last working day. With banked vacation time, I "officially" retire  Sept 1st. I had told my boss I did not want any gifts.

Well surprise ... this is perfect ... one of my colleagues suggested this as an "office retirement" gift. I am very pleased and had them sign/initial on the car. What a fun way to remember that team! This is a Lionel 6-19716.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Tail End Tuesday Indeed. Yesterday, Tuesday my office (University of Illinois Office of Technology Management) had a retirement lunch for me. I was in to help transfer my portfolio of technologies to two new technology managers.  Friday is my last working day. With banked vacation time, I "officially" retire  Sept 1st. I had told my boss I did not want any gifts.

Well surprise ... this is perfect ... one of my colleagues suggested this as an "office retirement" gift. I am very pleased and had them sign/initial on the car. What a fun way to remember that team! This is a Lionel 6-19716.

Congrats on your retirement, @ScoutingDad… today really is the first day of the rest of your life - ENJOY!!!

P.S. sweet retirement gift!!!

@Don McErlean posted:

As a change from all the NYC cabooses, how about a PRR caboose.  This is the Lionel (MPC) #19807 PRR "extended vision" caboose from 1988.  This guy is a SMOKER!  with a smoke unit inside exhausting through that large diameter stack in the roof.

Happy Tuesday, hope you are having a great week

Best Wishes

Don

I remember this one, Don, and the great deal you got on it! Love it and hoping to see it smokin' away sometime!

Well its the last Tuesday of May and looking forward to Summer.  It hit 99 deg here in central Texas today so summer is definitely on the way.  Here are some "tail ends" for today.    

First a bay window, "Allstate" caboose from Marx in 1958.

Next a Lionel (MPC) SRR # 9066 from 1973-76 .

Best Wishes

Don

Nice looking tail end Don Have a good Tail End All!

MTH Premier Rio Grande

Lionel Standard O Rio Grande has a flashing rear end device (and, it’s for sale😜)

Boston & Maine caboose #433 is a Railking model (30-7740) offered by MTH in 2000 at MSRP $39.95.

MELGAR

The Blue Comet and the Nellie Bly depart from the Great Northeastern Railway's suburban station Terryville on their quest to be first to arrive in Atlantic City.

@Sitka- Hey finally getting caught up on my reading, thanks for the compliment

Don

Oddly enough, I do have a new addition to the RTC fleet...

Some PW Lionel tail ends along with a hobo smoking a cigar, HAGD all God and Country

Here's my rears for this fine Tuesday!

A caboose brings up the rear of a Great Northeastern Railway mixed freight train into a tunnel on a cold winter day.

The end of a New York Central RR passenger train heads over a trestle toward the early autumn foliage surrounding the "Water Level Route" of upstate New York.

The tender end of an NYCRR Hudson.

Always terrific when someone does something unexpectedly, and astonishingly nice. I can’t thank Ron045 enough for his spontaneous gift of this custom painted caboose, numbered for our anniversary. Just blows me away! Thanks again, Ron!

New York Central bay window caboose #21039 is a K-Line model (K612-1751, MSRP $44.95) delivered in 1999. It is at the tail-end of a train powered by NYC diesel switcher #9654 by MTH.

MELGAR

Williams Reading observation car leaving the station after an early evening pick-up. Happy TeT.

Bob

Well in UK, the tail end of a passenger train usually involves what they call a "brake" or "guard's" van, where the conductor or trainman  has his office and does his work.  Here is a type 30/31 passenger cars, first coach is 1st / 2nd class and second coach is 3rd/guard.  The engine is a Type 51.  All Hornby trains from the UK postwar, 1950's era.

Here is a close up of the "guard's" van, note the door is labeled "guard"

So completely at odds with convention, here is a 1960's Japanese lithographed truck called the "Pet Shop" truck by Craigsten.  I just loved the detailed dogs on the decoration, this is lithographed on the tinplate by the way not decals.

Happy Tuesday, hope your week is going well

Don

Still can not hold a camera, but my hands are healing from my fall.  Here are some tail ends from a few years ago.

  Left to right:  MTH Q2, 3rd Rail Q1, Lionel T1, Lionel J1a.

Tail End Tuesday

Southern Pacific bay window caboose in the freight yard.

@CAPPilot posted:

Still can not hold a camera, but my hands are healing from my fall.

Good to hear Ron. Falling after 40 is an unhappy adventure. If you're in a hand therapy program, be persistent. It pays off.

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Good to hear Ron. Falling after 40 is an unhappy adventure. If you're in a hand therapy program, be persistent. It pays off.

Mark, I think the insurance will cover 12 visits once the right hand is out of the brace.  That is 3-4 weeks away.  I realize I am 73, but I am still amazed how much damage was done.

Anyway, while going through some old images I ran across this caboose.  I have not been to a Trackers meeting in a long time due to distance and conflicting schedules.  Need to get to one of their shows with some of my new trains.

@CAPPilot- Hey mate!  Glad your feeling better and hope the healing goes fast.  I am 79 and I agree, the damage from things we used to just brush off seems excessive have gotten much more careful in recent years, stay away from ladders etc.

Don

Have a good TET All

@Sitka posted:

Have a good TET All

Nicely composed photo Mark.

Hello, my name is Mitch and I'm a caboosaholic...  ;-)

I can quit anytime.  Honest.  ;D

Photo by MMM&M.  The extra M is for AND I HAVE AN EXTRA CABOOSE HIDDEN IN THE LIGHT FIXTURE! 

New York Central bobber caboose #380 is an MTH Premier model (20-91657, MSRP $59.95) released in 2019.

MELGAR

Based on an off-Forum suggestion by a chum, here is the First Annual Razorback Traction Co. Caboose Conductors' Conference and Convention! 

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel- Great pictures Mitch, loved the Caboose Conductors Conference picture!

OK T.E.T. fans, here is one that can really confuse collectors.  From the American Flyer "Dictator" set and other uncataloged sets comes this pair of lithographed cars with no numbers.  Issued in 1932, the cars both say "Paul Revere" on one side and "Lexington" on the other.  So here today is my Paul Revere/Lexington observation car from American Flyer in 1932.

These are classic Depression era cars by Flyer (Lionel did the same).  Lithography allowed the addition of great colors and significant details (look at the window frames and window shades for example) at very modest cost.  The roofs were enameled and the observation platform was brass on the bottom thus they were not the least expensive to produce (Flyer made less expensive ones as time went on ).  They were 4 wheel, so no trucks to make and unlighted again saving cost.

While we may look at these today and think how crude they are, remember cars like this saved our hobby from being killed by the Depression and gave thousands of young people a chance to have toy trains that they might never have gotten otherwise.

Happy T.E.T. everyone !  Hope your week is going well

Best Wishes

Don