The real "SP type" caboose...?

[alton6]

I am assuming the prototype for Lionel's staple end-of-train car really existed.

--How long was the prototype caboose? How tall? How much did it resemble Lionel's product?

--How many different railroads actually used this style of crummy? Was it's body steel or wood?

--What was the time frame for it's use? Do you know of any existing today?

Thanks,

Carl

[Anonymous]

Here you go.

http://www.sdrm.org/roster/caboose/cab1061/index.html

if you lop of the end of that address and just type www.sdrm.org and look under cabooses in there roster you will find that they have both flavors wood and steel.

[alton6]

Thanks for the link. Very helpful.

It looks as though Lionel was pretty faithful to the prototype after all, except for the trucks. The real caboose appears to be a bit longer, proportionally, than the model. I wonder what the maximum height of the cupola would be. Does anyone know the "standard" tunnel/bridge clearances during the 1040's?

Were the on-to-the-roof hooked end ladders pretty common at that time?

Carl

[SPFan]

Most if not all of the SP cabeese were built by the SP to their own design. Some of the UP's were similar but not identical. I've not paid much attention to those used by other roads, with a few exceptions, but the ladder design is typical of the SP cupola cabeese, going back at least to the '20s.

Pete

[alton6]

Thanks, Pete. Do you happen to know when the federal government started mandating standards for safety glass and such? I'm thinking it must have started in the 1960's.

Blanking out windows with steel, or installing safety glass, was to protect the crew from things flying back at them from the train in motion. Is this correct?