CPR Wooden Caboose

YOUR SPECIALIST FOR AUTHENTIC TRAIN MODELS
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Heritage Railway Miniatures
MODELS MADE BY ANDY WEGMULLER IN HO SCALE (1:87)

MODELS ARE FULLY DETAILED AND FINISHED
HANDCRAFTED MUSEUM QUALITY
COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION (EPOXY RESIN AND BRASS)
AVAILABLE IN LETTERING SCHEMES FOR DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS

Canadian Pacific Railway Wooden Caboose

CPR’s classic wood caboose design goes back to about 1905. Many series were built until 1945 with the same basic dimensions. Construction technics changed over the years and many were modernized in 1960’s and 70’s with plywood sides. Beginning in 1912 steel center sills were used. In the side were three windows and the cupola had eight windows. In the mid 1920’s the end beams were beefed up and one side window in the cupola was sheeted over. During the depression (1930’s) no new cabooses were built, but existing ones were rebuilt. The third side window was removed and the center window in the cupola end was sheeted over. Most received storm doors to keep out the draft and the inside warmer in the wintertime. The roof was now painted black and the side numbers reduced in size. For safety reasons the steps were changed for longer ones and the end railings heightened.
Traffic increase in WW2 faced CP with a shortage of cabooses, because no new cabooses were built since 1929. Beginning in 1941 new ones were built to the old design but they had welded double beam center sills and steel end beams. After 1943 the truck centers were increased by one foot. Hand rails and grabs were painted yellow starting during WW2. All CP wooden cabooses were built with tongue and grove siding.
Starting in 1960’s CP rebuilt many with plywood sides. On some the plywood was nailed over the tongue and grove siding, on others the T&G siding was removed before the plywood was nailed on. Some had their wooden end beams replaced with ones made from steel. From 1959 on the script logo was used, after 1968 the CP Rail logo was put on.
In the early 1970’s they were painted yellow and the roof walks and ladders were removed.
All wooden cabooses were removed from service in the early 1980’s.

Model description:

LENGTH	WEIGHT	COUPLERS	WHEELS	TRUCKS	RADIUS REQUIRED	FIRST YEAR PRODUCED
137mm	110gr.	Kadee #178	Semi Scale	Kadee	19 inch or 482mm	1991 /2006

This is the ultimate, most accurate detailed model of the CP wooden cabooses in 1:87 scale ( HO ) offered to the public, you can forget anything else, in Plastic or Brass. Every detail is accurately scaled and correct for the particular caboose number.
The hand built masters were prepared from original CP blue prints, measurements and many photographs. It is exquisitely detailed according to prototype with detailed under floor, full brake rigging, cut levers and brake hoses. The marker lights are correctly mounted on the corner, not the side or end as with other models. The models are one of a kind Museum quality, completely finished. The parts are cast with epoxy resin, carefully assembled, painted and lettered. Interior is painted and the cupola has interior and a brakeman/ conductor is present. Every detail has been faithfully replicated. The roof walk is made up from individual boards, hand rails are made from brass wire and the ladders are meticulously made up from brass parts. Every model reflects the prototype with distinguishing features for the time period. Even the basic design did not change, details make the difference. They are not a generic model to fit all, every detail is correct for the caboose the model represents. Differences are Cupola sheeting, stack, steps, hight of hand rails, end beam, storm door, under frame, K brake or AB brake, trucks, bolster spacing.
Lettering art work was specifically made for this models.
The model has then been weathered using a unique process. This whole process allows the finer details of the model to come to life giving a “real live” look and making it a truly astounding museum quality model.
They are fully operational with Kadee No. 78 couplers and have Simplex Arch bar or Bettendorf trucks with leaf springs as per prototype with semi scale wheels.
Length of standard model is 137mm or 5 3/8 inch, length of Shorty is 100 mm or 3 15/16 inch.


Archbar trucks, steps were lenghtened in the 1930's.	Plywood sides with script logo, cupola has frame for bug screen. Steps have safety wire mesch.


Plywood sheeting with script logo and ACI label. This one has a tall chimeny.	Plywood sheeting with CP Rail logo. Steel end beam and steps.


This caboose was rebuilt with plywood sides and steel end beams. The roof walk was left on.	Most cabooses had the roofwalk removed when they got the yellow paint job.


Roof walk is made from indifidual boards.	All CPR cabooses had storm doors installed in the 1930's

All models and pictures ©Andy Wegmuller