Link to a photo of Don Wirth's model: http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?media/811l.4721/ Link to Historical forum thread on Muley Cabooses: http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/muley-type-cabooses.12690/
Don - I'm confused about the Frisco's side door cabooses. Your SLSF 811 model is terrific looking! Is that from a kit, or did you scratch it, as you indicated, from Evergreen styrene? If that is the case, knowing you, I'm sure the model is pretty close to the prototype the Frisco used. How many of this type did they have on the roster? Road numbers? Now to my main question - I have the Hallmark brass side door caboose model. Unpainted, in the box. Nice model. How close to the prototype is that one? How many of those did they roster? Road numbers? I'm debating between finishing it or possibly selling it. I'm afraid my collection of caboose diagrams do not go back far enough for these cabs, so I'm in the dark on specifics (not unusual!). Thanks - Ken
The Hallmark brass model is of double-sheathed caboose numbers 27 and 28, later 1127 and 1128. I think there were single-sheathed versions also - one is/was at the Branson Scenic Railroad and had been at the Frisco Museum in Springfield.Doug
I think the HMK caboose is undersize but don't have any dwgs of them. I could have measured one at Cuba years ago, but it didn't occur to me. I don't think they are that old. I had a HMK a long time ago but sold it or something. Don't remember. 811 is scratchbuilt.
My old Hallmark. My sister bought it for me. I painted and lettered it. It even has the air whistles on each end platform. Doug
Doing OK. Two years fighting stage 4A bladder cancer and still able to run model trains and build new ones. I'm having way too much fun running AT&N RS-1 109 on locals at the Knoxville club. Our motto: "escaping reality without use of chemicals". Follow Knoxville Area Model Railroaders on Facebook. Best club I ever joined. Doug
Hang in there Doug, keep up the fight. Glad to hear that otherwise, you are still enjoying the good things in life. I still have fond memories of the good things you did with FMIG - thanks for all you did to help mobilize Frisco fans everywhere! Caroline and I are doing OK here in Naples, FL. We both have some health issues, but thankfully, nothing too serious. The weather here lately has been spectacularly nice. No room in the condo for a layout though. I am maintaining my status of being a railroad modeler, not a model railroader! I spend a lot of time reading - Chernow and McCullough among other authors, and am in my second term on our condo board. We have 178 units, and owners who have at least 178 different opinions on things! Among my readings, I have spent the last six months or so catching up on Larry Thomas' excellent TRRA Hist Society annual publications dealing with the TRRA and the railroads that served St Louis. I was about eight years behind Larry's releases. Only three to go now! They are each very well done. Best wishes in your fight. And, best wishes to the family. We just spent Christmas and New Years with Kurt, Jen and our three granddaughters up in Olathe, KS. We had a wonderful time - grandkids are really a blessing! Ken
If possible, could someone please post the Frisco caboose diagram for the side door caboose that Hallmark modeled. Thanks. K
Ken, cabooses 27 & 28 are on page 6A of the freight car diagrams book, but no drawing is shown. Here are the major dimensions given: Built SL-SF 1938; inside length 35' 4-1/2", width 8' 4-1/8", height 6' 9-1/8"; outside length 40' 2-1/2", width at eaves 9' 8-3/4"; height from rail to eaves 10' 10-1/2", to top of running board 11' 7"; side door width 5' 0" height 6' 3/16"; end door width 23-1/8", height 6' 0"; light weight 48,000; baggage room length 13' 0". I received Larry Thomas' excellent issue about the Alton & Southern as a Christmas present from Sandy. I'm learning about all those soft coal mines around east St. Louis. One even had a narrow-gauge railroad. Doug
Doug - Thanks. I finished the TRRA Madison Yard issue (2014) this week. Guess who is next - The Meteor! (2015). Though, I read much of it already when it issued, but not all. I'm reading them in order. I think Larry, along with other helpers, does a great job on these annual StL area bulletins. I asked him to consider an issue on #'s 3 & 4, the Will Rogers. He said maybe sometime in the future, as he had just done the Texas Special and The Meteor issues. I had a lot of fun riding the "Will" back and forth between StL and Rolla back in the MSM days. K
I made an attempt to replicate #777 from a photo or two. I happened to catch her tonight headed back through Greenbrier.