Folks - For background, see the following Frisco Museum "All Aboard" article on Cabooses, via Mike Condren's website: http://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1998.v11.3.pdf I'd not realized that there were slight modifications in the slanted, wood cupola cabooses or "Phase I" as the article describes them. For instance, the "Original design" (see "All Aboard" photo of 746 unknown date) displays uneven spacing between the side windows and NO end windows, along with two-tread platform steps. A later photo of #709 at Springfield on 11-27-1947 shows the later modifications of end windows, even side window spacing, and three-tread steps. A photo of #813 at Pittsburg KS on 5-30-1948 shows new safety railings on end platforms. While not included in this article, I've seen information from years ago that 1948 is when the end railings went from being painted black to yellow. Add to this a perusal of the old Frisco Museum's Freight Car Diagram Booklet on cabooses that Mike Corley uploaded a few years back: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?5656-Frisco-Caboose-Diagrams-Museum-Version The diagram book shows uneven side window spacing, two-tread steps *but* with end windows. This would lead me to believe that the latter were added before any further modifications to the steps and side windows. At any rate, I'm trying to establish a rough date as to when the modifications to change the steps, side window spacing and adding of the end windows would have occurred. Any clear evidence or murky guesses are welcome. Best Regards,
Man oh man. Chris, I really like that caboose #319 with the billboard FRISCO lettering and blocked off side doors. And 1915 is the perfect date. I need to purchase another AMB Frisco wood caboose kit so I can do an easy kitbash. Why did you have to go and do that!?
You probably should have two cabooses on your line, Jim, so your next one up can be #319. Until I find evidence otherwise, I like the symmetry of the evenly-spaced windows, along with the look of the end windows, for my modeling era (1943). I reckon I can safely make the argument that these modifications would have been made by this time. Best Regards,
