I want to acquire one of each type caboose used on the NKP. Does anyone know of a publication showing pictures, and descriptions of the cabooses used on the NKP, and other eastern railroads.
Thanks
Randy Staller
I don’t know about that, but there’s a museum near here that I visit often that has a few old NKP cabeese. Here’s some pics…(Warning, they’re BIG)
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aai.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/afk.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/Captured2006-6-24.jpg
On these two I don’t know if they are NKP or not, but judging the amount of NKP equipment they have on hand, the chances are good. Take a peek and maybe you’ll find them of some use.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/afq.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aeh.jpg
Yes, “Cabooses of the Nickel Plate”, published by the NKPHTS. They sold out of the softback several years ago, but they regularly float through Ebay for about $25.
I hope your brass budget is full of cash, because that’s almost the ONLY way you’ll be able to get your hands on one of each type of NKP caboose…well, that and scratchbuilding.
The NKP had a standard caboose design: the 1000 series. This was THE caboose for the road from the first day of operation to the last. They’ve been made in several versions of brass in the past, and are available as a wood kit from Gloor Craft (OOP) and AMB.
When the NKP absorbed the LE&W, they inherited three different cabooses, including one that was a virtual clone of the 1000s, and two versions of a much shorter caboose. Division Point has made these cars in brass.
Of course, the only versions that have been released are the four window per side version. The three window cabs came in at least two different styles, there was a cupoless version, and at least one caboose had a side door for LCL lading. All of these cars will have to scratched or bashed.
When the NKP absorbed the TStL&W, they inherited another three styles of wood caboose, that looked nothing like the NKP or LE&W cabs. No one has made these cabooses in brass or plastic, so they’ll have to be scratchbuilt.
During WWII, the NKP bought 25 old wood cabooses from the C&O, and used them as transfer cabs around Chicago and St Louis until 1964. These C&O cabs are NOT like the Walthers model, and are available only in brass.
Also during WWII, the NKP
The first of these is a former Monon caboose (#81528), built in the Monon’s shops to their own design. The NKP did not own any cabooses of this design.
The second is a Grand Trunk Western caboose. They didn’t have very many wooden cabooses with the cupola in the center, but this was one of them.
Ray pretty much nailed the significant members of the NKP’s caboose fleet.
Wait…I missed one? [:D]
Ray, what would be the correct roof? Do you have a top shot of a real one? Would it be possible to rebuild the Atlas car, or would the effort be too high, and it’s better to buy a brass one?
The correct roof is a flat panel Murphy roof, which is REALLY simple to scratchbuild (.030" sheet styrene and 1x3s spaced 3.5 feet apart). And yes, it is pretty simple to fix. Jim Six changed the roofs on a couple of his models, and they look great (and he was able to keep the factory paint in the process!)
I should have both top photos of the 700-series cabooses and some of Jim’s model photos (what the heck; I’ve got a photo of almost every NKP caboose). Let me dig around on Monday and I’ll email them to you offlist.
Ray, have many thanks for your efforts. That sounds to be really easy to correct the roof. You will get my email adress through the system.
Thanks again.
All; Thanks for the info. Got in touch with John Fryar, from the NKPTHS. He refered me to a bookstore, that had a copy of Cabooses of the NKP. I sucked it up immediately if not sooner. The book is a wealth of information. I purchased a NKP 0-4-0 dockside, and decided to get a bobber caboose to go with it. I thought this was probably incorrect, as I didn’t suspect the NKP had bobbers. Wrong. They not only had bobber cabooses, but drovers cabooses as well. There are fairly good drawings of the war emergency cabooses ( 40 foot boxcars), and I think I may try a shot at kitbashing one of these also. Been checking out all the brass on e-bay, and bidding like crazy. Again Thanks for the info and input
Randy Staller
Learn something new every day!