Bluford Shops N scale modern caboose

A modern road caboose is the latest ready-to-run N scale model released by Bluford Shops. It’s modeled from one of the last new caboose designs built before changes in state laws allowed railroads to stop operating cabooses in the 1980s.

The Missouri Pacific developed this short-body, bay-window road caboose with the help of International Car Co. in the summer of 1977. The carbodies were built at the MoPac’s De Soto Shop and finished at the Sedalia Shop. A sample car (no. 13842) was built first, then 351 more followed in three large batches: 13715-13814 in 1977-78 (100 cars), 13815-13965 in 1980 (151 cars), and 13000-13099 in 1981 (100 cars).

The first 100 cars had a toilet window opposite the stove and a silver roof. This extra window was omitted on the rest of the fleet, which had white roofs. This model represents one of the later cars.

Similar cars were purchased by the Union Pacific, Louisville & Nashville, Clinchfield, and Southern Pacific.

The model has a molded plastic body and main floor with individually applied plastic end railings, window glazing, underframe, and brake system details. Both decks and the step treads include a diamond-plate surface texture. The delicate platform railings are lost-wax brass castings to make them more durable.

The car has roller-bearing caboose trucks with rigid frames and acetal plastic wheelsets that match the National Model Railroad Association’s gauge.

Our sample came fitted with Accurail Accumate knuckle couplers mounted at the proper height. They are body mounted in coupler boxes secured with small flathead screws. These couplers may be replaced with Micro-Trains no. 1015 or McHenry couplers if desired.

The caboose weighs only ½ ounce (about half of the weight in the NMRA’s Recommended Practice 20.1). There’s a metal weight sealed inside the body, but the manufacturer recommends using metal wheelsets to add more weight.

Our sample came neatly painted in the Missouri Pacific’s bright red scheme with the white roof. The printed blue and white herald is perfectly aligned, and all of the small data is clear and readable under magnification.

Overall, this is an excellent modern N scale road caboose model that reflects Bluford Shop’s close attention to detail.

HO modelers will be happy to know that Bluford has just received some test samples of the same car in HO scale. Check out the photos on the firm’s website.

Price: $36.95

Manufacturer:
Bluford Shops
P.O. Box 152
Bluford, IL 62814
www.bluford-shops.com

Eras: 1978 to present

Road names: Missouri Pacific, Union Pacific (yellow or MOW green), Family Lines (Louisville & Nashville, Clinchfield, or Indiana RR), Southern Pacific

Features

• Atlas Accumate knuckle couplers mounted at correct height
• Plastic wheels (in gauge)
• Roller bearing caboose trucks
• Prototype-specific detail
• Weight: ½ ounce (½ ounce under NMRA RP-20.1)