Athearn RS3 and Cabooses

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  • December 12, 2015 at 9:39 pm #5637
    John Hall
    Participant

    Athearn just released a whole boat load (okay, container full) of new models, including several MP/TP. They released an RS3, and three Cabooses. They’re all in Athearn’s RTR line, so I don’t expect road specific details like we sometimes get in their Genesis line. I was wondering what everyone thought of them?

    The RS3 I’m guessing would have been pretty standard. I know some (all?) were converted to RS3m (aka GP12) in the mid 1960s. I’m wondering how long unmodified RS3s were seen in the Jenks Blue paint scheme.

    Athearn RS3: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH96842
    MP RS3: http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/berglund/mp992.jpg
    MP GP12: http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/j_carson/mp1065_jcarson.jpg

    I haven’t found a photo of what Athearn calls their Wide Vision Caboose. The Closest (and where they get the number range from) is the International Car Co. Extended Vision Caboose. So I guess this is just a fobbie.

    Athearn: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74149
    MP: http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/t_moses/mp13523_11-83_kc-mo_tmoses.jpg

    The Athearn Eastern Caboose looks sort of like the MP Magor style caboose. Close enough Ifor a stand in?

    Athearn Eastern Caboose: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH74380
    MP Magor-style Steel Coboose 13004: http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/sires/MP13004.jpg

    Finally, there’s a “Cupola Coboose” for Texas & Pacific. I have no idea how accurate it is.

    Athearn: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH98079

    And yes, I should get Cabooses of the Missouri Pacific Lines ;-)

    December 14, 2015 at 5:45 pm #7606
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Dave
    Their EV caboose was measured off a RI caboose. My understanding is the carbody is too short and the cupola should be farther back. The T&P caboose is an ATSF prototype so not even close to the prototype.

    Will let others comment on the Alco RS3. Would be great to see someone do a conversion kit so we could make these into GP12s.

    December 15, 2015 at 12:59 am #7607
    Mike Vana
    Participant

    The Rock Island EV caboose that Athearn modeled is too short because these were built on older caboose center sills that were sent to ICC for a new caboose body. Because of this, it really doesn’t work for anyone else’s caboose. I imagine one showed up in LA courtesy of Espee or UP as part of a pool arrangement and that is what they measured.

    I’m convinced the Shapeways parts are the way to go for now for an extended vision caboose especially for the later versions.

    I think model railroading is at its best when you get to operate with friends who might do a different era or region of even a different scale and you get the opportunity to bring your own equipment. I regret not getting an O Scale Mullet River MoP caboose a couple of years back.

    Jim Ogden

    February 14, 2016 at 8:05 pm #7821
    bargetanika
    Participant

    The caboose in Lake Providence La. has been gone for several years now. No one apparently can get a straight story of what happened to it.

    April 10, 2016 at 2:23 pm #7879
    bargetanika
    Participant

    I bought a couple of the Athearn “eastern” 2 window cabooses. They appear to be recycled Model Die Casting cabooses.

    To my eye they are quite over scaled, looking almost S scale when coupled on a train. The door on the end is close to 8 scale feet high. A brakeman inside the caboose would have to stand tiptoe to see out the side window.

    It was very disappointing to see this oversized-ness only after they were put on the layout. I ended up giving them away.

    April 10, 2016 at 3:30 pm #7880
    mopac
    Member

    Are there any H0 scale models of cabooses, that fit for a MoPac prototype ?

    Ok, except brass models.

    April 10, 2016 at 4:25 pm #7881
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Bluford Shops made a Mopac short bay window caboose in a couple of different numbers. The MPHS sold a special run of two different numbers last year and we sold out. Theres a EV Shapeways caboose available. Just do a search on this forum for the topic.

    April 10, 2016 at 8:54 pm #7882
    bargetanika
    Participant

    The AMB drovers cabooses are still there, right? I’ve got 4 to build when I retire. Lake Junction ever get the 4 window wood cars off the ground? I’m good for 4 of them.

    April 10, 2016 at 9:35 pm #7883
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Pat
    I was going down the path of modern cabooses for our Mopac modeler in Germany but you are right the AMB drivers cabooses are still available. Bill Hoss hasn’t released the standard wood caboose (700-900 class) yet. He has the wood parts done and some of the details parts (smoke jack and toilet vent) he’d initially did the steps in PE brass but I think is plan is to do them as cast resin parts. Then there’s the end railings.

    April 13, 2016 at 4:24 am #7884
    Joseph Berry
    Participant

    There is a thread on here in the HO scale area about the ICC center cupola cars in resin. Nate O. is building one in MOPAC colors. I think some of these lasted almost until the UP merger.

    April 24, 2016 at 3:12 pm #7894
    Daniel Duckworth
    Participant

    @Patrick wrote:

    I bought a couple of the Athearn “eastern” 2 window cabooses. They appear to be recycled Model Die Casting cabooses.

    To my eye they are quite over scaled, looking almost S scale when coupled on a train. The door on the end is close to 8 scale feet high. A brakeman inside the caboose would have to stand tiptoe to see out the side window.

    It was very disappointing to see this oversized-ness only after they were put on the layout. I ended up giving them away.

    I have some of these, as well as the Atlas NE ones in MP livery – Atlas did a much better job, finer detail, not oversize. However, they are still not exactly the same as the Magor and/or MP copies – difference in overall length, height, details.
    For the moment I’m living with both, but will probably replace the MDC/Athearn with Atlas. WrightTrak also has an MP caboose, which is a nice resin model of the ICC rebuilds of older standard cabooses. My only issue with these is this was a project done in 64-65, and I model 1960 – but who would know… The AMB ones are also nice.

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