Hi Michael: The cabooses

Hi Michael:

The cabooses I rode in had markers on each end (electric) and before then portable oil ones which the brakeman/conductor changed depending which end was the rear. Later these types were replaced with Scotchlite reflectors wihich were visible during daylight and reflected well at night. I don't know about a single cupalo roof marker but have a hunch if permanent they could be rotated inside to produce the proper end/color.

The purpose of the marker for those not aware was to signify that when placed on a caboose or other car it was the last car on the train and the train was "complete". Note it didn't necessairly have to be a caboose because if another car was placed behind a caboose the marker(s) would be hung on it to indicate to all passing trains/offices it was the very last car on the train. Of course today the FRED (flashing rear end device) has replaced the caboose (btw a very dangerous place to ride due to slack action). As I recall, without looking in my old rule books markers dispalyed red to the rear and green to the side although there were exceptions where markers were yellow to the side instead of green...depended on the railroad.

This subject is memorable to me because during a job interview with a railroad vice president many years ago he asked me: "What's the purpose of a marker on a train?" I responded that it indicated the last car on a train and if missing the train was not "complete" by me. There might have been a car behind the caboose which derailed/broke down on the main track indicating there was still a portion of the train left behind and was still occupied. Had I been the conductor on an opposing train sitting in a siding waiting for the first rain to pass so I could proceed back on the main track and I just saw the caboose pass and didn't check to see if the makers displayed red upon entering the main track my train could run into a car(s) left on the main track as the first train was not "complete" by me. BTW, because of the right answer I got the new job as the first trainman training officer for that railroad.

Barry

Likely, too much information.

Era

A lot of the question depends on the era of the model, the era you are modeling and whether it makes a difference to you.

Many of the "marker lights" on the cupola were more of a signal light than a marker light.  

Back in the day when there were no air brakes and link and pin couplers, break in twos were common and if the train parted, there was no automatic "signal" to the engine that they just left part of the train behind.  Cabooses had a light on the caboose so the engine could tell the rear of the train was still there.

Once air brakes became universal the need for the signal became obsolete.  If the train parted the air brakes would go in emergency and the crew would know the train parted.

If you are modeling pre-airbrakes the cupola signal is appropriate.  If not, then it could be removed.

The caboose in question

Thanks for the information guys, much appreciated. This the caboose I just finished up. There are red and green lenses for the marker that goes on the cupola. I have two more similar kits with slightly varying styles from this one and I will be painting and lettering them for my private road but I wanted the NP one because I have an NP RS-1.

Again, I love these kits. Not exactly shake the box easy but they don't take too much effort to get a nice looking model. I wish they still made stuff like this, Accurail is about as close as we have anymore and they don't make any cabooses that I know of. At some point I'd like to light this which is part of what spiked my interest in the markers.

Nicemodel, Michael. Barry

Nicemodel, Michael.

Barry

The model

With a lot of the older models such as that caboose (dating from the 1970's), one of the first questions that has to be asked is, is the model accurate? 

Many of those older models are based on other models themselves and there wasn't a great an emphasis on prototype fidelity.

Reverse the Roof?

That's a nice looking caboose, Michael.  I wonder though if perhaps the roof is installed backward, with it's cupola over the windows?  Seems like it would be better over the "blank" area to the right (most cabooses that I've been in have lockers below the cupola seating platform).

I agree that these old kits with the metal rails and grabs are nicer, and stronger also.

Late night modeling

Yes Jack, it was reversed, thankfully the roof is meant to be removable so it's an easy fix. Such is the hazard of late night modeling. I only got up about an hour and a half ago as I was up so late last night. My sleep schedule has gotten a little out of whack.

I can't believe this is the first time in all the years I've been a model rail that I've really paid any serious attention to cabooses but it's true. I've been poking around the web and I sense another rabbit hole of research to disappear down if I'm not careful!

I noticed this at the LTS the other day …

They didn't have one unsealed to page flip so I declined as it had a hefty sticker. I noticed it this morning on the back of a recent Trains.  

Curious if anyone has bought it and if it's worth getting?  Maybe it has marker lights.  Maybe you library system has access to it Michael to check it out.

Markers

What do you want to know about marker lights?

Just in case...

Anyone is interested. The PRRT&HS has just brought out a book on PRR Cabins/Cabooses/Cabeese. Also known as Way Cars, etc. But I bring this up because of any new interest in these cars that have all but disappeared from the rails. And yes, the markers are a separate issue - they've been installed in all sorts of various places. Some on the edge of the roof, some on the body, and ? why ? some on the top of the roof.

  "And yes, the markers are

Yeah, I'd guess it's railroad and era specific.  The two railroads I'm familiar with ( SP and ATSF)used different colors in their markers and the SP had them in 3 different locations that I know of; rear corners of caboose, on the roof on little legs, and on the rear of the caboose body under the roof overhang  For those interested in accurate prototype modeling  some photo research would be useful, for anyone else any kind of markers look cool :> ) ....DaveB

A new observation...

Of my models. Old wooden, newish brass, etc. All have cupolas over windows. The "as built" by the brass importer. Obviously, my wooden one can be switched. But that don't make any difference, either way, the cupola is over the windows. Phooey. Now who'd of ever thought of all this if it had not been by mentioned by JC Shall. Thanks Jack. I for one, am glad you mentioned this. And now - what the heck am I going to do with brass cabins with the cupola in the wrong place? Just use them as I have for 50+ years. Ignore the error. And oh what the heck!

@Morgan & Michael

@Michael, Some markers on this one.

@Morgan The roofs are likely a separate assembly, tack soldered (potentially sweating the joint) in a few places.   The solder may be hard to see, but not invisible.  If its a concern, maybe see if you can get one roof off and reverse it.

A small high temp solder rework station would make this easier.  E.g.:

https://www.amazon.ca/Station-Soldering-Electronics-Repairing-Desoldering/dp/B086GDHKYP

I think it would make short work of solder joints, even hidden ones.

Someone on here must have tackled this problem.  Every caboose I’ve been in has had solid walls under the Cupola as there are cabinets with ladders there to access the seats up top.  

As reference re window placement, here are some shots of a caboose interior from an LGB Model.
 

Cabeese

In less than a 1000 words.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=caboose&t=crhs&iax=images&ia=images

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=caboose+interior+pics&t=crhs&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

Bernd

Well, the chief advantage to

Well, the chief advantage to being the head cuss of the Blackwater Island Railroad is that I can adapt whatever kind of marker conventions I want and call it a day, it's my railroad and all that, but this particular model having the single marker on the cupola threw me a bit of a curve. As I said, never seen that modeled before, always seen people doing the dual ones on the rear. It's a nice looking little marker, the red and green "jewels" glue into the housing and are quite reflective but I've got my eye on some of the Tomar LED markers. I'm thinking about building a self contained lighting system with a button battery and a magnetic reed switch where I could turn the lighting on and off with a magnetic wand.

Illuminated Markers are COOL

Do the LED thing . . . illuminated markers are cool!

Markers

As I said, it might not be a marker.  It could be a signal light, not a marker.  The signal light is for the engine, not the passing trains.  If its a signal light, there would be conventional markers on the rear.

@Dave

Yes , I saw the comment and I appreciate the info. Not that it necessarily means anything but the instructions refer to it as a "marker light" and the little jewels that go into it are red and green. My assumption, based on how other markers work is that it would go in place with the red facing rearward and the green facing forward. So far though, I haven't been able to find a concrete example of one in my research. I've found references to "signal lights" and antennas being mounted on the roof but no real specifics about them and their lens colors.

1870's

Look for pictures of cabooses from the 1870's through 1890's.   For example, I searched for "old time cabooses".

Red & Green...

Is railroad decided. i.e. Each RR has it's own rules for what color. Yes, red will be facing rearward, but green or amber is on the side or front. So, like you've been saying "It's my railroad and I can do what I want". I agree. Just decide what you want and do that. And don't worry about all the differences that RRs can do. There's too many different decisions RRs have made through the years. MR is FUN!

Time frame

My railroad is now envisioned to be on a sort of remote island and using some second hand equipment but I'll likely not use the roof light at all because I think it would set the time frame too far back. I'm not a stickler for prototypical accuracy but I do like to adhere to a general time frame and avoid any obvious anachronisms.

Since I'm planning on using the aftermarket LED markers, I'll likely just go with a common configuration of the markers on each side with red facing rearward and green on the side an call it a day. I was just thrown off by the rooftop light because I'd never seen one modeled before.

  "My railroad is now

Hi Michael,  A remote island railroad might use whatever they want.  I recall caboose marker lamps when I was a kid, red on the SP and yellow on the Santa Fe ( that could be rotated to show green when the caboose was clear in a siding) Over the years they became fixed roof lights and eventually FREDs as the caboose disappeared. I  look back fondly on the marker light era .....DaveB

Rule 19 for marker lights

http://www.sbs4dcc.com/therulesccor1959/rule19markerlights.html

Bernd

Very helpful but...

Does this sentence confuse the heck out of anyone else besides me?