Why an SP Caboose?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Most of Lionel’s train sets came with the standard issue “SP” caboose. I have a couple of questions;

  1. Was it really modelled after a Southern Pacific caboose and
  2. Why did Lionel choose Southern Pacific to model over some other road like Union Pacific or Santa Fe?

Thanks in advance.

2

Maybe they picked SP because the markings are relatively plain, so the caboose coujld be paired with anything.
SP - maybe it means “Special Purpose”?

If they used a Union Pacific or Santa Fe logo, that would not be the case.

There has been a lot written about these caboose. Tadem says it is based on an SP prototype.

3

Here is my understanding of the origin of the term “SP-Type” caboose. When Lionel Corporation created the tooling for this style caboose in ‘47, the first ones (2257 & 2357) came decorated with the graphic “SP”, abbreviation for Southern Pacific. This term has stuck ever since to describe this style caboose with Lionel train enthuses. Here’s an example of the 6357 SP Caboose produced from ’48 to ’61.

Papa D

4

Perhaps they were an early user of steel bodies? I can tell you one thing, there are A LOT of surviving Southern Pacific Cabooses of evey shape and description out there! [:D] http://coscia-espee.info/sp_cabooses.html

5

Could be they just liked it and once they had molds they just went with it. It is a Lionel icon actually, as we know even MPC modified and used it.