NYC Steel Bay Window Caboose

The following is a model I am considering that is currently produced by Wright Trak Railroad Models.   I am little hesitant to purchase the model because it is cast in resin and I have not had the best of times working with resin kits in the past.   At any rate, I am intrigued by this model and so I am probably going to give it another go.   The History behind this lot of "cabeese" is pretty interesting too. I have included the prototype insert supplied by Wright Trak and researched by Bernie Halloran below the picture of a completed model.     

This kit is a high-quality replica of the famous New York Central Bay Window Caboose first delivered in 1948 for use on the Central’s mainline trains. They were initially three prototypes for the 33’ bay window (b-w) caboose that were built by Dispatch Shops in 1948 as Lot 778, road #20200-20202. Presumably, the NYC evaluated them in service for some months before fine- tuning the final design for the 300 production cars that followed. The original three cars have the following external details that differ noticeably from the later production cars: a small window in the toilet area (absent in the production cars); a cylindrical “Globe” type of roof vent above the toilet space (also absent in the production cars); a fixed window in the bunk area, at least on the toilet-side (if not both sides) of the car (changed to a larger sliding window in the production cars); no car- routing board (present in the production cars as discussed below).

The production cars were built in two lots: Lot 782, Dispatch Shops, 1949, road #NYC 20203-20297 and B&A 1300-1304 (later NYC 20498-20502), 100 cars total; and Lot 827, St. Louis Car, 1952, road #20298-20497, 200 cars total.

All cars had coal/wood stoves with a typical covered smokejack on the car roof (this was located toward what was designated the „B‟ end of the car). Interior illumination was by kerosene or oil lamps. The cars were painted freight car red/brown and had the white NYC oval (no black background) on each side. The white initials (B&A or NYC) and road number on each side beneath the cupola were in the sans-serif style. Some later in-service photos show subtle lettering variations, most commonly a capital „C‟ or „W‟ (in white Roman lettering of all things) below the road #.

The cars in the two lots were taken to be identified by the NYC and many modelers have long accepted along this. However, a close examination of 18 B&W photos (8-Lot 782 and 10- Lot 827) will show some subtle variations: the later Lot 827 cars had smokejacks that were noticeably taller than the earlier Lot 782 cars. Both lots have wood car-routing boards located on the bottom edge of the frame on each left side, just above the truck centerline. However, the later Lot 827 cars have an additional routing board located on the side just below and to the prominent drip strip over the b-w and down each side. This detail is missing entirely on the earlier Lot 782 cars as built although at least one car had a similar (but not identical) drip strip installed later.

REBUILT CARS Apparently the 33‟ b-w cabooses (including all three Lot 778 prototypes) underwent a significant reworking during the early 1960‟s, possibly starting as early as 1963. This took place at the time many cabooses on the central were assigned to pool service instead of “belonging to a particular conductor.” Lettering on the rebuilt cars indicates that this work was done under “Program (or Project) 343”

The following changes were made that are noticeable on the cars‟ exteriors based on examination of 28 photos in my possession: oil heat was added. The fuel-oil tank fill and vent(?) pipes are very noticeable, located just below and to the right of the b-w (i.e. toward the „A‟ end) on the “stove” side of the car (in an area formerly occupied by bunks). Contrary to what I thought retained in all cases although some of the earlier Lot 782 cars may have received taller smokejacks as replacements for damaged originals.

Electric lighting was added which resulted in an underbody battery box located on side opposite the smokejack/fuel pipes, just to the left of the b-w (toward the „A‟ end). A body mounted, belt driven generator was used in all but one case. Battery charging receptacles were added to the underbody on each side toward the „A‟ end of the car. The earlier Lot 782 cars and even the Lot 778 prototype received the drip strips above and around the b-w. The fixed windows on the slanted side of each b-w received windshield wipers (presumably driven by electric motors). Three Globe roof vents ere installed on the side opposite the smokejack/fuel pipes. One was located over the same location as the original brackets used for kerosene markers. An external water fill was added which suggests that an internal water tank was added for drinking water if not a flush toilet. This filler appears as a downward- pointing trumpet on the outer edge of the underbody on each side toward the „B‟ end of the car. Most cars received a radio and a roof- mounted, firecracker-style antenna which was located on the smokejack/fuel-fill side just above the left edge of the b-w.

It appears the later Lot 827 cars lost the extra car-routing board on the side. Conversely, the lot 778 prototypes gained the routing board on the frame side. The cars were renumbered into the 21500-21798 series in no apparent order so that all three lots were commingled. The cars were painted in Century („jade”) green which (almost?) everyone agrees bore no resemblance to either Pullman or Pacemaker Greens.