Rio Grande caboose question...

Tracklayer · February 18, 2007, 1:03am

Hello gang. I’ve got an N scale Spectrum 2-6-6-2 Mallet that I’ve made into Rio Grande #3350, and for about eight months now, I’ve been using an old wooden MDC Roundhouse Denver & Rio Grande Western caboose with the old pre-1940s D&RGW herald on it to pull behind it. My question is, would they (the D&RGW) actually have used this type caboose with these marking at that time with that loco ?.

Thanks in advance.

Tracklayer

twhite · February 18, 2007, 2:06am

Tracklayer–you BETCHA!

Actually, Rio Grande wooden cabooses lasted a VERY long time on the railroad, and the MDC version is pretty accurate to the classes built for the railroad in the 1920’s. I see you’re doing N scale, so I assume that the roundhouse caboose is the same that they produce in HO scale, which is pretty close to prototype. The Rio Grande dropped the round herald about the beginning of WWII and substituted the ‘flying’ RIO GRANDE as their equipment came in for shopping, but the wooden cabooses always had the “DENVER AND RIO GRANDE WESTERN” just below the roof-line. The only thing they did in the WWII shopping was substitute the ‘flying’ lettering for the round herald on the side. And even that didn’t always happen–I’ve got photos of some of the older Rio Grande cabooses behind trains clear into the late 1940’s and early 'fifties. By then, they were used on locals, and seldom on main-line traffic, but they still existed. Besides, if you’re using that 2-6-6-2 for anything besides mine-hauling on branches in Utah, then you’re automatically back-dating yourself into the 1920’s, anyway.

My HO Rio Grande Yuba Sub uses wooden cabooses almost exclusively, but the date is WWII, so I have a mix of ‘flying’ and ‘round’ heralds, from both Roundhouse and Walthers. Frankly, I use the Roundhouse more, because they simply track better.

Go for it.

Tom

Tracklayer · February 18, 2007, 4:05am

Tracklayer–you BETCHA!

Actually, Rio Grande wooden cabooses lasted a VERY long time on the railroad, and the MDC version is pretty accurate to the classes built for the railroad in the 1920’s. I see you’re doing N scale, so I assume that the roundhouse caboose is the same that they produce in HO scale, which is pretty close to prototype. The Rio Grande dropped the round herald about the beginning of WWII and substituted the ‘flying’ RIO GRANDE as their equipment came in for shopping, but the wooden cabooses always had the “DENVER AND RIO GRANDE WESTERN” just below the roof-line. The only thing they did in the WWII shopping was substitute the ‘flying’ lettering for the round herald on the side. And even that didn’t always happen–I’ve got photos of some of the older Rio Grande cabooses behind trains clear into the late 1940’s and early 'fifties. By then, they were used on locals, and seldom on main-line traffic, but they still existed. Besides, if you’re using that 2-6-6-2 for anything besides mine-hauling on branches in Utah, then you’re automatically back-dating yourself into the 1920’s, anyway.

My HO Rio Grande Yuba Sub uses wooden cabooses almost exclusively, but the date is WWII, so I have a mix of ‘flying’ and ‘round’ heralds, from both Roundhouse and Walthers. Frankly, I use the Roundhouse more, because they simply track better.

Go for it.

Tom

Hi Tom, and thanks for the info. That’s music to my ears… I always like to be as correct as possible about such things. I guess if I had to I could match the paint, paint over the round herald and re-decal it with the flying letters which I just so happen to have on hand, but I’d really rather just leave it as it is if at all possible. Thanks again.

Tracklayer (Mark)