Anybody have any ideas and/or pictures on caboose servicing facilities? I understand that most of the structures are quite small, which would be perfect for the project that I have in mind. Prototype photos and.or drawings would be especially helpful.
Thanks
no photos but the PRR/PC/CR at Rose Lake (E St Louis) used an old baggage car body set on cross ties for the cab track shanty. there was one man assigned to the cab track on each shift and he took care of supplying the cabs with overhead water,stove oil, paper products, soap, ice etc. about the only repair work he ever did was to charge the batteries or replace an alternator drive belt.
grizlump
I used, what else, an old wooden caboose and chicken coop. DJ.
Great shots, DJ. I had the first picture from back in march, but the second one gives me a better idea of how it all goes together. Thanks again!
It was also common to use an old boxcar body to house supplies. Depending on the era there might be a fuel oil tank or a coal bin and drums of oil for lamps and markers. Often there would be a small ice house or later an ice making machine. Don't forget to provide blue flags to protect the carmen servicing the cabooses.
Hi!
Good advice already, and may I add..................
Many of the RRs used "detrucked" baggage, box, or even cabooses to house the supplies. Of course that didn't necessarily house the coal or oil that were in adjacent bins or tanks. Ice was another supply, which I suspect was not easily available. But the brake shoes, torpedoes, flares, flags, lanterns, etc. were kept in the cars or sheds nearby.
There are probably a number of vintage or current kits that could be modified for this service, and as there probably wasn't a strict adherence to plans, you could really put one together just to fit your needs, and have it look like it belongs.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I have seen small sheds and one medium size building by caboose servicing tracks..The building house a break room and a supply room while the sheds house various maintenance items.There was also a large coal bunker that was no longer used(by '66) and a large tank for fuel oil.
Also remember carman would inspect the cabooses and make minor repairs-heavier repairs was done on the shop rip track.
A caboose servicing crew could service several cabooses in a 8 hour shift it was a never ending job at large terminals.There was a regular switch job assigned to switching cabooses from inbound to service track then outbound ready track..This crew also added cabooses to outbound trains and removed them from inbound train...I worked such a job as a yard extra board brakeman and it was hectic..
I don't recall seeing any old boxcars or baggage cars being used since space was limited in the caboose area.I'm sure some roads did use old box cars and baggage cars.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
See here.
Dan
AltonFan See here.
Looks like a repeat since the same photo was used and mentioning of the chicken coop..
Grampy - Please don't beat yourself up like that! So what if you posted the same pictures twice? They were great the first time, and with the alternate view added, they were great the second time too!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter Grampy - Please don't beat yourself up like that! So what if you posted the same pictures twice? They were great the first time, and with the alternate view added, they were great the second time too! Dave
I think he missed the TV rerun joke-see the smileys?