Pte ST. Charles Caboose

[Nato]

       I recieved my two Prairie Shadows/ Rapido CN Pointe ST. Charles Cabooses. All I can say is "I' am Speechless". On a one to ten scale they are a twelve. This is the best caboose model in N Scale bar none , it beats out the Bluford Bay Window which is now a distaint second on my list.                                                                                                                                             The new CN Van (to use Canadian lingo) features a fully detailed interrior,that is lighted and DCC friendly, the most highly detailed underbody and frame I have ever viewed on an N Scale caboose, lots of free standing details, grabs on the sides and ends, aluminum window frames with windshield wipers where apropraite (this is a modern car), the marker lights operate on battery power like Rapido Easy Peasy passenger car lights. A magnetic wand is passed over the roof at each end to activate the marker lights on that end. So far that is the only problem I have expierenced I cannot seem to find the hidden switches and get the marker lights to glow,i even substituded a wand from an IM Centraillia car, no go.   The cabeese are fairly free rolling considering they do have truck pickups for the lighting,the metal wheels are great, one had popped out in traisit on one car it was easly fixed. Couplers are body mount MT's.                                                                                                                                         Not having any contemporary CN diesels, only some old Trix F Units I now have on order TWO Kato CN SD40-2 diesels. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[Scottl]

Thanks for the report, I can't wait to see mine!

[Plumcrazy]

I had built a brass Athabasca photo etched caboose about 12 years ago ,and had no intention of buying another Point st. Charles caboose . Well that changed when I walked into a train store that I sometimes go to in Mississauga . They had three CN cabooses on display in the front of the store . I could not get over how beautifully detailed these models were ,so I bought one . I placed it beside my Athabasca caboose when I got home ,and the extra details especially the underbody really make the Prairie Shadows model stand out . At $50.00 Canadian it seems a little expensive ,but buying a brass kit , couplers , caboose trucks ,paint ,glue ,decals , and of course the time to build it , the Prairie Shadows model in my opinion  is actually a bargain for a Prototypical CN caboose  of this detail

Alex

[Philip H]

Did yours come from Credit Valley? I hadn't gotten word they were in yet.

[Plumcrazy]

Hi Phillip,

Credit valley was the store , I was there Friday . I think they have about 10 different road #s .I did not see the international service (yellow cupola)or the white safety caboose there , maybe they haven't come in yet

Alex

[Ian MacMillan]

I'm waiting for the international's to come out. I want at least one. In our "caboose village" one of the private owners has one of these cabooses and I love using it as a shoving platform.

[Big Train]

Can someone post a picture of the production version available now. The only photos I've seen are of the pre-production test shots....

Thanks!

[Puddington]

One I took at random from the shipment.... nice caboose... wrong Canadian railway ! (oh Puddy !)

[sizemore]

Pics or it didnt happen!


The S.

Edit: Nevermind, Puddy posted at the exact same time. As you were.

[JSL]

Nice CN bulkhead flat too, Mike. I saw the pics Colin sent of the production progress. Those will be outstanding too. Jeff would kill me if I leaked anything else

[lock4244]

Jeff should get some painted yellow with a multimark... for the fans of that other road so they don't feel left out 

[Scottl]

These are ultra hawt.

Puddy, do you have anything other than CN equipment?

[Plumcrazy]

Here are some pictures comparing the Prairie Shadows/Rapido caboose to the Athabasca brass kit


Prairie Shadows





Athabasca




and together

[BCR 570]

Puddy, do you have anything other than CN equipment?

Didn't the CPR sell the Puddington Valley Division to the CN some time ago?   


Wish they had picked up on my suggestion to include one or two of the BC Rail numbers for these to go with the NARC gondolas . . .   


Tim

[Plumcrazy]

Not wanting any of my fellow members to be upset by all this CN red here is some CP yellow



Alex