Manufacturer:
Bluford Shops
P.O. Box 152
Bluford, IL 62814
www.bluford-shops.com
Era: 1978 to present
Road names: Missouri Pacific (red or MOW green), Family Lines (Louisville & Nashville, Clinchfield, Seaboard, or Indiana RR), Union Pacific, and Southern Pacific
Comments: A modern road caboose is the latest ready-to-run HO scale model released by Bluford Shops. It has the same design as the N scale car we reviewed in the July 2013 issue.
The Missouri Pacific developed this short-body, bay-window road caboose with the help of International Car Co. The Mopac’s shops built 352 of them in three batches between 1977 and 1981.
Our sample has a molded plastic body and main floor with individually applied acetal plastic end and inner safety railings, window glazing, underframe, and air brake system details. Both main decks and the step treads have a safety-tread surface.
Prototype-specific detailing is provided for each road name. All of the grab irons and the uncoupling levers are formed wire. The underbody is well done with individually applied air brake details, scale-profile wire piping, and brake rodding.
This contemporary caboose rides on roller-bearing leaf-spring caboose trucks with rigid frames and metal RP-25 contour wheelsets that match the National Model Railroad Association’s gauge. These trucks are extremely free-rolling.
Kadee couplers are mounted at correct height per NMRA S-2.
The car’s 2 ounce weight is 1½ ounces light per NMRA RP-20.1. The manufacturer says the weight will be corrected on the next run.
This would be a perfect caboose to add to my collection. I don't own anything from Blueford Shops as of yet. I plan to own this caboose which looks really nice. I am sure a Louisville and Nashville and a Seaboard System caboose along with Penn Central and Conrail for and another Penn Central and an undecorated caboose will go to my brother who plans to paint the undecorated one then letter it for his business known as Karra Steel. These cabooses are nice and I am sure I will buy one at some point.
As the "road caboose" designation in the review indicates, the MoPac used these on regular freight trains, although they looked like the transfer cabooses traditionally used between yards in the same area. I saw one at Independence, MO in the 1980's; the Mass. Bay Transportation Authority bought a used one for work train service; it still wears most of its Missouri Pacific paint and lettering.