Three production runs of this engine over the past 18 years and no caboose to pull behind its trains. This one area that has been neglected by the importers over the years is a good wood sided caboose. Lionel tooling is very old and needs updating. Don't think AtlasO or MTH has done much in NYC or New England pre-WWII cabooses. So how about it. Someone needs to step up.
What say you????
PS I could use one in Rutland as well!!!!!
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For the sake of discussion.
I think the best you could hope for is correct lettering on Lionels current woodsided caboose which is close.
I have a couple of the MTH cabooses, IMO the details are better, especially with the more to scale grab irons on the ends. The truck spacing is off some. It might be difficult to get MTH to produce a caboose without a matching loco, but, who knows.
I'd like that. Where they coming from?
Didn't Lionel get the K-line tooling for the smoking off-center woodside caboose? I think that could be a decent model to go with the B&A Berks. I have the K-line version of the Berk and the caboose; my only complaint was that it didn't have a capacitor for flicker-free operation. Lionel could easily remedy that.
Bryce
@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:Didn't Lionel get the K-line tooling for the smoking off-center woodside caboose? I think that could be a decent model to go with the B&A Berks.
Bryce
Note the cupola.Thats more of an ATSF style woodsided caboose with B&A lettering.
The Lionel plastic 19000 caboose is wrong in many ways. The diecast ones are better for the bodies, not so much for the frames and trucks. Best bet are the MTH ones. Trucks in the wrong location but otherwise decent, not to mention affordable.
Pete
@RickO y'a got me there.
What about re-using Lionel's NYC CupolaCam woodside caboose? That seems a lot more close
@RickO posted:Hmmm, (this just occured to me) maybe Lionel could "aquire" this tooling. If they haven't already, and offer folks a B&A caboose in vol2.
And then price it at 150 bucks?? No thanks.
Pete
Here are a few of mine. Some have been modified with correct trucks moved inboard of the steps as per prototype. FWIW the best three rail 19000 caboose was the Lionel pre war 717.
Starting top left and moving across and then down.
PSC 18000 brass, MTH plastic, MTH plastic Lionel diecast, MTH Die Cast, Lionel diecast, Lionel bay window, MTH diecast, Lionel diecast.
Pete
I think I had the Kline caboose at one time and sold it as it was way over sized but it's been awhile. Nice collection Pete. Dave_C did up a caboose for me, new trucks, Kadee, and relettered to B&A but I need one more for B&A and a few in Rutland which used the same NYC design.
Here is some more info on the NYC 19000 cabeese. I am assuming the B&A is the same relettered.
The real deal. Note the T section Bettendorf trucks, truss rod underbody, and ladders that don't go over the roof. Also cupola grabs at the corners. My photo taken in Northeast, PA.
Next is a brass caboose with correct detail other than trucks. Got this w/o a box so not sure if its PSC or NJ international.
Next is a MTH diecast caboose with trucks replaced and moved inward. They come with big roller bearing trucks located under the platforms.
Finally a MTH Premier Caboose. Wrong trucks but better location. Maybe B&A or Rutland used this style trucks. BTW MTH later downgraded the Premier Caboose to Railking though its the same in every way and has add on grabs. Early Railking had cast on grabs. Too bad the Lionel plastic caboose has the wrong ladders and grabs as its the only one other than the 717 pre war to have the correct trucks in the right location and truss rods.
Maybe you could talk Steve into having MTH make them for youse guys. MTH has T section Bettendofs as well as Lionel.
Lastly you can build one yourself. Mullet River Kit. They pop up every once in a while.
Pete
Williams brass. You can find them sometimes at a good price as they came in multiple road names. None for the B&A. Your going to have to remove the lettering , frosted glazing and move the trucks inward. I used Atlas friction bearing trucks. You’ll need a bolster to mount them. I use Kadee’s so not sure how this goes if you retain the claw coupler. I believe I used S scale decals. Still a little large. Other than the stock oversized smoke jack. It’s not a bad model.
I picked this up awhile ago. NJ Brass. 2 rail. Already painted. I modified the 3 rail Atlas trucks I put on it and nothing else. I got this to run with my Mohawks. I lucked out and picked up another one. Unpainted with no trucks. I’ll turn that one into a B&A.
At this point. I’d rather do a bit of work and get a somewhat of a correct one. Rather than settle on what’s out there with new paint and lettering.
Just my opinion but, the most accurate NYC 19,000 series caboose is the Mullet River version. However, finding the correct T Section Bettendorf trucks would now be a problem, I believe.
2 Rail T Section Bettendorf Caboose trucks are a problem. Rich Yoder only makes coil spring trucks but not interested at this time to make leaf spring trucks correct for this caboose. MTH and Lionel make acceptable three rail T section Bettendorfs if not as finely detailed. I used San Juan Car Co. trucks and replaced the coil springs with PSC leafs. Not sure if San Juan is doing standard gauge any more but they are responsive to inquiries.
Pete
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