Cabeese matching

[SirZoltan]

Hello,

I recently got a good deal on an Alaska N scale GP40.

However, I cannot seem to find an n scale Alaska caboose to match? Am I just googling and looking at the wrong online stores?

Also, is a red caboose considered a match to a blue/yellow Santa Fe loco as well as a silver/red Santa Fe loco?

Thanks for any help,
Chad

[subwayaz]

Hello,

I recently got a good deal on an Alaska N scale GP40.

However, I cannot seem to find an n scale Alaska caboose to match? Am I just googling and looking at the wrong online stores?

Also, is a red caboose considered a match to a blue/yellow Santa Fe loco as well as a silver/red Santa Fe loco?

Thanks for any help,
Chad

Her you go I found you some follow the link

http://www.alaskarails.org/modeling/ARR-modeling-n.html

[smostyn]

Does a caboose need to match the loco generally? I have no idea

[subwayaz]

From all of the pictures I've seen the Livery usually matches, not the locos era.

[MRLdave]

At the time cabooses were used, RR's seldom traded engines, let alone cabooses. Cabooses didn't need to match the engines as far as color scheme, but you wouldn't see someone elses caboose on the end of a train.

[musicman]

As far back as I can remember, CN never ran anyone else's caboose.

[SirZoltan]

Okay - so I figured correctly. Even if you run cars from the wrong era and/or wrong livery, I think my engine and caboose should match.

I went to the URL provided and tried googling those Atlas part numbers, ebaying them etc. I cannot seem to find them anywhere for sale.

So, why would Bachmann sell an Alaska engine and no matching caboose? I know...you don't know either...it just seems really idiotic to me.

I guess if I can't find a matching caboose I'll have to return the engine.

Thanks,
Chad

[musicman]

I may be wrong (often am) but some railways didn't run a caboose on every train. That change happened many years ago. I am not sure what era you are modelling but maybe some of the guys here could tell you if in fact Alaska ran them in that era. I suspect Bachman sells far more engines than cabeese. Not everyone running model trains run them. Maybe they just don't have enough demand.

You always have the option to buy a caboose and "redecorate" it. If you really want that engine I would consider that option before thinking of returning it.

[absnut]

Since Bachmann has a train set called the McKinley Explorer, a pair of F's and several passenger cars all lettered for the Alaska, maybe they did the GP40 to compliment that set and give another option?

[MRLdave]

I know I've seen Alaska cabeese on ebay before......but I wasn't paying attention to manufacturer.....just noticed a cool looking blue and yellow caboose and paused to see what railroad. They do exist though.

[SirZoltan]

Thank you everyone for your help.

To answer a few questions asked:

Right now I am just messing around with an oval of track [hopefully to be expanded to more later], but I have very limited room and will probably never really get a decorated setup etc going. I also have some HO stuff I want to get set up. Also, probably just some basic track and maybe a few buildings etc. I just don't have the room to dedicate to a full setup. I -really- wish I did.

I have not played with [I can hear someone sneering out there...] trains since I was probably a teenager or maybe younger. I have really missed it!

So, to answer another question: I'm just messing around - I have NO plan whatsoever for an era to model, what trains I want to run etc.

I just got a good deal on a basic Bachmann Explorer n scale [24008] set to start with. Yes, I know Bachmann isn't the preferred maker of trains anymore, but it is what -I- can afford and its something to mess around with. And yes, I know Bachmann [at least on n scale stuff] puts really crappy dummy couplers on everything. And yes I know those can be replaced if I really want to torture myself.

I also got a good deal on the Bachmann Digital Commander HO setup. From what I can tell it is one of the few Bachmann sets that actually comes with the good NS track even tho you don't get as many cars. Yet again, I got a good deal on a DCC Western Maryland engine but can't find a WM caboose [I have at least seen a few HO var for sale tho!].

Sadly, right now space and $$ are my main concerns. I realize that model railroading isn't a cheap hobby, but I'm trying to do the best with what I have.

If you have any more questions, just ask. I hope I didn't ramble on too much answering questions.

Thanks again,
Chad

[totaga]

I have a couple Alaska RR GP40 (both #3015) but have yet to find a caboose. Have turned the internet upside down and can't find one. The engines will just have to be making a cameo appearance.
Still looking.

[brokemoto]

So, why would Bachmann sell an Alaska engine and no matching caboose? I know...you don't know either...it just seems really idiotic to me.

Thanks,
Chad

Why does Atlas sell an 1870s 2-6-0 and sells no nineteenth century rolling stock? Atlas has not even indicated that it ever intends to sell nineteenth century rolling stock.

Why does MP sell late 1890s/early 1900s 4-4-0s and no passenger cars to match? (They do sell HW PRR-based cars in some, but not all roads in which they sell the eight wheelers).

Why does Broadway Limited sell PAs and other passenger cab diseasels and no matching passenger cars?

Why does IM sell all those F-units and no cabooses?

The manufacturers do know what their competitors sell, so they figure that if they sell this or that piece of equipment, the purchaser can buy the complimentary equipment from the competing manufacturer.

As others have indicated, an Alaska RR caboose does exist. If you can not find it on FeePay, many vendors at shows have them. You could probably check the websites of various hobby stores or WKW, as well.

Thus,

You can buy appropriate rolling stock from Bachpersonn, Athearn or the varoius small manufacturers to go with the Atlas 2-6-0.

You can buy wood cars from Athearn or HWs from RR for the MP eight wheeler.

You can buy LWs or HWs from several manufacturers to go with the BLI power.

You can buy a caboose from somewhere to go with your IM F-unit.

I seem to recall that MicroScale sells ARR decals, so if you can not find an Atlas ARR caboose, you could probably decal one. The paint scheme does not look to be that difficult.


Sometimes, a manufacturer can afford only one product at a time. It must make a choice: does it bring out power, passenger cars, freight cars, cabooses, or what? It takes into consideration the factors that it does, and makes the decision accordingly.

[Davejb]

If you don't mind buying another engine (and who does?) here's a caboose, might get it for a good price as the mfg is unknown.
http://cgi.ebay.com/N-scale-Alaska-L...item414d06bd82

[smostyn]

I found another for you, if you're still looking.

http://store.modelpower.com/index.as...OD&ProdID=1218