ATSF Caboose

[ErnieC]

The Grand Canyon Chapter of the NRHS has a extended vision Sante Fe caboose with the letters "NE" near the steps on opposite corners of the lower side panels. Does anyone know what this means?[?]

[AltonFan]

I believe NE is a class designation, which identifies the type, make, and model of the caboose. It could also provide information on how the caboose could be moved. Many railroads had rules requiring that if pushers were used, the caboose had to be coupled behind the pusher, especially if the caboose had a wood underframe.

IIRC, the AAR designation for cabeese is N.

[ErnieC]

Dan,
Thanks for the response, I feel a little stupid as I just set up a card system and used the AAR car designations. May be it's just age?
Ernie C

[davekelly]

Please!! Don't call it "age." How 'bout . . . maturity . . . wiseness . . . .etc? Age sounds so . . . . . . . old! lol.

[Anonymous]

If it's a former ATSF caboose, the designation should be CE 8, CE 10 or CE 11
Ch

[ErnieC]

Psngrtrn,
Yep, full blooded ATSF extended vision caboose built in 1979 and it clearly read "NE" . Hard to see now as we sanded it all off for repainting. Going to be beautiful!

QUOTE: Originally posted by psngrtrn

If it's a former ATSF caboose, the designation should be CE 8, CE 10 or CE 11
Ch

Ernie C

[Anonymous]

"NE" is the Association of American Railroads' generic mechanical designation for any 8-wheel caboose. ("NM" is its designation for a 4-wheel 'bobber' with a cupola.)

Individual railroads could and often did establi***heir own classifications for types of cars. Sometimes these class designations followed the AAR letter classes, and often times they didn't. CB&Q, for example, designated its various caboose models under "NE", as in the NE-12 steel caboose with sloping cupola. UP used "CA-", PRR used "N-", and ATSF used "CE-".

[ErnieC]

Fiverings,
Thanks for the info, it's a big help. Will share with the Chapter.
Ernie C

[Mark300]

ErnieC.....

williamsdoc over on the Trains magazine forum represents a group involved with the NHRS/Grand Canyon chapter repainting the #999727. They are trying to get the colors 'right' for their project.

Check out this thread.....http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42321

If you in the same group....Good Luck & Best Wishes for a successful project.

In addition to HO, N & O gauge, I love real 12 inches to 1 foot scale! [:)]

HTH

Mark

[Anonymous]

Erniec, the ATSF didn't classify their caboose w/NE. They classified their caboose w/CE-the first and last letter of caboose
Ch