Other uses for cabooses

[Twinboystrains]

I hope I'm not bringing back a old thread. I was curious on what other MRR's have used cabooses for. I know some model when they were still in use. But for those who model the post caboose years, what have you come up with?

 

[DanRaitz]

Swap meet fodder.

 

[Twinboystrains]

That would require a large amount to get something of better value. I have seen hobo camps made out of them. Looking for other creative ideas for using them. Thought about a caboose motel like near Strasbourg PA.

 

[ctclibby]

Essex, MT ( Izzak Walton Inn ) has 4 or 5 that are used for guest rooms. We thought about staying in one although Mom could have had issues getting in/out and moving around in one, so we did not.

You can kinda see three in this google earth shot. There are better shots on their web site.
Izzak Walton Inn

 

[Twinboystrains]

Essex, MT ( Izzak Walton Inn ) has 4 or 5 that are used for guest rooms. We thought about staying in one although Mom could have had issues getting in/out and moving around in one, so we did not.

View attachment 150349

You can kinda see three in this google earth shot. There are better shots on their web site.
Izzak Walton Inn

Very nice! If I was out that way I would definitely stop by. Anyone else have something creative? Always looking for new ideas.

 

[shortwrench]

A new in box caboose with metal wheels for $10 at the Amherst train show makes for a suitable structure for the yard office. Some day it will
be repainted to reflect the railroad when I get an air brush.

 

[CambriaArea51]

I have an old Conrail caboose that I weathered up and is used a breakroom on a siding for work crews.

 

[Twinboystrains]

I'm thinking of weathering one of mine for a local diner. Convenient to the tracks for crews to get a quick bite. Modeling a branch line of a class one that runs in the dark.

 

[J.Albert]

The best place for a caboose is on the rear of a train, where it belongs...

 

[Twinboystrains]

I already have one dedicated for my layout. Happen to have a few extra ones. Different road names and undecorated.

 

[cv_acr]

Railroads still operate a limited number of cabooses today.

They can be used as:
- work train "rider" cars for MoW crews
- "shoving platforms" for a trainman to comfortably ride a long shoving move down a spur
- this is less so in modern era, but old cabooses also made for good MoW bunk cars, since they were basically already set up that way for train crews. My railroad bumped a lot of older wood cabooses to work bunk cars after replacing them with modern steel cabooses in the 1970s.

Two Ontario Northland cabooses sandwiching a generator/tool car on the end of a ballast train (July 2013):

https://flic.kr/p/RegfMg

 

[trailrider]

The best place for a caboose is on the rear of a train, where it belongs...

A train without a waycar (Burlington Route for caboose) is agin the laws of nature!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Reflecting on some of the stories I've read about the wood beam cabooses that were still used between the steam locomotive and the string of freight cars. As the mallot loco shoved the cut of cars, the crew could feel the floor flex or bow upward. I wonder how many suffered the fate of the caboose buckling under the push of the loco?

 

[MikeGTW]

Got my lazy self back to sorting and scanning slides There's probably several thousand Installed VueScan 9 haven't used it in a long time the scanner is a Plustek 7400
Any way a couple cabeese

 

[MikeGTW]

Couple more Plus an engine in the Battle Creek MI shop

 

[gjslsffan]

I had a ATSF WV caboose given to me so I wanted to do something different with it. Ran across this image of a ATSF cab, a shove platform for the Golden Local.
Here is a link to the prototype.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/atsf/atsf999721gga.jpg

My version of same.

Thanks for taking a look.

 

[beiland]

Reflecting on some of the stories I've read about the wood beam cabooses that were still used between the steam locomotive and the string of freight cars. As the mallot loco shoved the cut of cars, the crew could feel the floor flex or bow upward. I wonder how many suffered the fate of the caboose buckling under the push of the loco?

Wasn't that one of the primary reasons for developing those B&O/C&O wagontop cabooses. I really like those models, and intend to run them with my steam locos.

 

[MikeGTW]

Had the wrong pict in previous post so fixed it and couple more The CN is in Toronto

 

[cv_acr]

Had the wrong pict in previous post so fixed it and couple more The CN is in Toronto

That CN isn't a caboose, it's a flanger.

 

[MikeGTW]

Was at the signal school for 2 week more like vacation all expenses paid I should have went out and wandered around
But you are correct my bad