the caboose that never was

[Todd A Ferguson]

It appears to me that this one caboose might ride on a single truck.  Perhaps like a regular truck or a disconnect log truck.  The second caboose reminds me of the undercarriage of the dump cars used for construction such as on the West Side Lumber Co.  I believe Precision Scale made models and kits of these type cars.  I have several of the On3 kits.

Best,
Todd

[Todd A Ferguson]

Doug,

Based on the cupola caboose in your photo it appears to me that the cupola sides are not vertical but slope inward.  This is a similar design to the early Pennsylvania railroad caboose design that were the basis for some early D&RG caboose designs I mentioned earlier.

Best,
Todd

[Todd A Ferguson]

[Todd A Ferguson]

[Dave Eggleston]

Which car are you referring too as appearing to ride on a single truck? I've lost track in the intertwining threads in this discussion! Thanks!

[Keith Hayes]

Am I out of order to remind everyone that William Jackson Palmer spent his formative years as a railroader as the Secretary to the President of the Pennsylvania Railroad? I forget how long he was in this role before the Civil War, but it would not surprise me if he was steeped in the abuilding "Standard Railroad of the World's" standards of the era. Heck, he may have even set off with a couple standards books to help as he built his own little railroad project!

[drgwcs]

Jim Courtney wrote

John,

Why are all the early caboose photos so uselessly poor?  Photographers in those days just didn't have their priorities right, they always wasted all their time shooting the steam-belching other end of the train!

And children were also a distraction (C&S cabooses are always more important than children!).



Photographer unknown, Courtney collection.


I puchased this photo on eBay about three years ago and posted it: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Vintage-photos-C-amp-S-engine-9-and-caboose-312-1009-c1909-11-td3603.html


This may be the earliest photo of a rebuilt C&S caboose, probably number 312/1009, as discussed in the post.

Had the photographer framed the photo better, we would be able to see, not only the new, modern 9 foot underframe, but we would know whether it was numbered 312 (pre-1911) or 1009 (post-1911) and be better able to date the photo!

Jim- Do you mind if we use this one photo with the kids in it for the instructions on the new Western Rails cabeese to show lettering? I am writing them out for David and needed a photo of the block lettering.

[Jim Courtney]

Certainly, Jim, be my guest.

I consider any photo that I find and post her to be the collective property of the C&S NG fan community.

You might also consider this later photo of 1009 in the Klingers' book:




Taken in the 19'teens, after the USSA ladders and hardware, the lettering is the same but has been moved, now centered between the side window and the end of the car.