I normally consider myself to be a 2-foot modeler, “if it looks good at two feet I’m happy.” These recent releases tend to take that rule and toss it out the window as I find that at 6″ my bifocals cannot keep up with the detail and exactness of these models. Some details worthy of note are the single window on the sides of the cupola, a CPR oddity; the full undercarriage detail such as the brake system; the minor details, such as rivet heads walkways and cupola sides, are exact and not bulky; grab rails and other small attached details are sturdy yet to scale. TLT does provide “Supplemental Information” regarding the use of Celcon for the construction of ladders, steps, and ends as this material is sturdier and stronger than the standard plastic and due to this, the color may be off. What I found with the brown and yellow end cabooses was that this was not the case. The colors were well matched and not translucent and if there was a variance, I believe this could easily be offset by weathering chalks. Another aspect of these offerings is the crispness and detail of the markings. Definitely of the highest standard and quality. Finally, the TLT caboose came with removable Marker lights. You will find these fit into small holes at either end of the caboose so you can arrange depending on the direction of operation. To place and remove I would suggest the use of forceps or tweezers as these are small.
One minor flaw I noticed was the numbering on the Cupola’s ends on the Red with yellow ends version. One of the digits is covered over by the stays. Saying this, it is not noticeable unless one looks very hard. For me this is not an issue.
As for the operation of these, they come straight out of the box and require no tweaking or breaking in, so make sure you have them on a flat piece of track when left unattended. If not you will have a “runaway” situation on your hands as these go like stink! Weighing 3.75 oz. (107 grams) helps to make for a very smooth and straight ride. They come with prototypical metal wheels and the latest version of McHenry couplers, which are true when checked with an NMRA gauge.
These Cabooses come in four versions with four numbers per version: brown with block lettering, brown with red ends in CPR script, red with yellow ends in CPR script, and yellow in the CPR “Pac-man” livery. My understanding is these versions represent the 4 eras of railroading the CPR wood sheathed cabooses were in operation. Unfortunately there is no information regarding what time period these different versions operated in, something I wish all manufacturers would include with their releases.
These cabooses are definitely in the high end of the spectrum when it comes to quality, running, and accuracy and as one colleague mentioned to me in the LHS “These things are darn near perfect.” And in my mind, it doesn’t get any better than that. For someone modeling Canadian railways or looking for something “a bit different,” the True Line Trains CPR caboose is definitely worth having.
