I recently bought a Hallmark AT&SF 2565 class 2-10-0. While not a Santa Fe fan or modeler I love these Baldwin Decapods. I also like having a caboose to match my engines. Who makes a good model of an appropriate caboose to go with this engine in HO scale? I prefer brass but a quality car would be ok too.
Thanks,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
I’m a fan of early Santa Fe steam, and I think that one sorta qualifies. Very nice.
Centralia Car Shops (through Intermountain) makes a really nice early steel one.
That class of engine was apparently extant 1925-1955, so the above will do nicely.
Walthers also did a wood Santa Fe caboose that looks pretty good.
YOU are SET!
Ed
There was a good discussion years ago about Santa Fe cabooses and available models - and it had the benefit of input from the late Andy Sperandeo, a real Santa Fe expert.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/p/139077/1552515.aspx
Note that the classic Athearn blue box caboose was in fact a Santa Fe prototype from your era, and Andy cites an article of his about detailing it.
Dave Nelson
I located several of the Centralia cabooses on feebay. I prefer the look of the brown cars with simple lettering but they seem to be available in a few variations. One is AT&SF with just a number while another is ATSF with a number on the front of the cupola and a third has ATSF with an R after the number. Which would be the most appropriate for my HM 2565 Decapod?
Thanks,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Roger,
On this page:
http://www.intermountain-railway.com/distrib/ccs/ccsho.html
you can see a list of 10 “ATSF Early Steel Caboose”(es) for study.
Santa Fe started using the “R” in the fifties, so I would think that would be too late.
I think the same thing for the “numbers on the cupola”–fifties–too late.
You COULD argue that your 2-10-0 was still around in the mid-fifties and that one of the above could then be used. I surely couldn’t say it didn’t happen. But it ain’t a slam dunk, I’ll tell ya. Neither are exactly unreasonable, just unlikely.
Same reasoning would apply to versions with the white railings (1953).
The “AT&SF”, as you call it, lasted until about 1938.
Of the three you mention, I’d pick the last one. UNLESS it was TOO early.
Kupla comments on Santa Fe cabeese:
They called them “way cars”. Like the Burlington.
“A. T. & S. F.” lasted until 1938-ish
“A. T. S. F.” 1938-1943-ish
“A T S F” 1943 on past 1955 (your cutoff date)
Note that there (apparently) WAS NO “AT&SF”. It had periods.
Using all this info, I would stay away from Santa Fe cabeese with “R”'s and/or cupola numbers and/or white railings.
Then I’d pick just WHEN I wanted my 2-10-0 to run and try to find an appropriate caboose from the rather extensive selection.
All that said, I suggest you consider getting the one on your list with the “&”.
Ed
To narrow down your time frame, I checked E. D. Worley’s Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail, Southwest Railroad Historical Society, Dallas, 1965.
Santa Fe’s 2565 class of 2-10-0’s was acquired when the road absorbed the Kansas City Mexico & Orient in 1925. The five engines continued in Santa Fe service until the 1950’s. Retirement dates were:
2565 July 31, 1953
2566 Jan. 5, 1955
2567 Jan. 19, 1955
2568 Oct. 25, 1954
2569 Oct. 25, 1954
Ed’s information about way car lettering practices seems to conform perfectly with information in Frank M. Ellington’s Caboose Cars of the Santa Fe Railway, Railroad Car Press, Colfax, IA, 1977.
A wooden car such as the Walthers car (or the Gloor Craft kit) might be more at home behind the Decapod. Some of the earlier wood cars with side doors and no end platforms have been available in brass. That is not to say the steel car would be incorrect.
Enjoy the project!
Tom
(Edited; corrected)
Ed,
Many thanks for all the great information. Hard to believe all the different options to sort through just to put something behind the tender!lol
I really don’t have any specific era for the engine. I model the Western Maryland so it’s just something I wanted for a long time and managed to snatch one on feebay pretty cheap. I’m not a Santa Fe fan but a Decapod fan. I think it will be a great looking engine as the 2566.
Thanks,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Roger,
Your “affliction” in not uncommon. I model up in the Pacific Northwest, but I somehow have:
2 New Haven FL9’s and a growing collection of NH passenger cars
A passel of RF&P locomotives–said passel continues to grow–went to 9th grade near Potomac Yard
Farthest afield: the Rheingold, a german train
And, oh yeah, a Santa Fe GP7 is due here soon. It will be pulling 5 ATSF reefers and one steel caboose. Which explains how an SP&S modeler ended up being of use for your Santa Fe quest–I’d already done some delving. But, now that you mention it, maybe I need a Santa Fe steamer too…
Ed
Ed,
I understand completely. While I really model WM I have a slew of N&W steam and passenger stuff as well as C&O and B&O plus an RF&P Governor and a bunch of S-160’s and the ATSF Decapod.
It’s hard to resist some of the stuff I see. Fortunately, doing so much painting over the years I have had my “fix” of some great stuff like CB&Q steam, AT&SF steam and lots of Pennsy.
Looking forward to tracking down the caboose.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Check Brasstrains.com. They have a brass guide that lists a large number of brass pieces (green tab). You can then filter your search etc.
Ed,
I just couldn’t resist the 2565. I really have a thing for all Decapods.
I’m sure I’ll wind up with several different CF-7’s too. I lived in the DFW area when Cleburne was doing the conversions and took a few tours through the shops. I got a ton of pictures of the lines of retired F-units outside waiting to be converted. They were very cool engines and something entirely different. The “Beep” lived at the shops then as a switcher and it was pretty unique too.
Roger
Well. Then, clearly, you will LOVE this:
It’s also a Decapod, but just with more wheels and a hinge.
Ed
Ed,
I have to admit a strong affection for GN steam. They had BIG stuff and knew how to really railroad.
Thanks for the great picture.
Roger
The SF Centralia Car Shops Early Steel Cabooses that were released by Intermountain may be hard to find. If I were you, I’d just use a Walthers Platinum Line Caboose to go with your 2-10-0.
Well, feebay seemed to have quite a few of the Centralia cabooses in the past week or so. Unfortunately most were the versions I can’t use! I did manage to score one that will look great behind my Decapod when I get her painted. The cab arrived Friday and it’s an amazing car worthy of being with such a fine locomotive.
Many thanks to those who pointed me in the right direction and privided all that great Santa Fe info. I’m much wiser and happier now thanks to you guys!
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works