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 Posted - February 24 2013 : 5:05:23 PM
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I picked up this cabooose at a swap meet last winter and want to resurrect it. Before I do so, I need to know more about it, as I haven't been very successful online researching it.
It has a plastic shell- much thicker than those in Athearn BBs. The all metal chassis is one piece and the end rails and ladders look like they were soldered/welded at the time of assembly, with the brake wheel riveted on. The interior of the shell shows molding and parting marks. The decals appear to be applied aftermarket, but there is evidence of poor painting on the interior around the windows, so i am not sure if the paint is original either.
I think this represents an N class Pennsy caboose, although there is not a lot of detail. I could find no maker marks on the shell or the chassis. If it is in it's original scheme, I'll just puts some trucks on it and leave it. If it is a reworked shell, I will repaint and reletter it.
Can anyone help me on the identity of this "Mystery Caboose"???????
Siouxlake/ Ron
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Posted - February 24 2013 : 5:10:39 PM
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Looks to be a Varney and a die cast piece.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - February 24 2013 : 6:23:46 PM
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There are a couple of Varney cabeese on Ebay right now. They look very similar in construction to yours.
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Posted - February 24 2013 : 6:30:27 PM
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hmm this kinda resembles my PRR custom caboose I picked up a few years ago at a train show
I'll find it & take a pic of it soon 
I KNOWS its in my caboose box 
Edited by - microbusss on February 24 2013 6:31:21 PM
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Posted - February 24 2013 : 6:36:12 PM
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| It's a Penn Line. They used Varney shells with their own cast underframe.
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 12:08:04 AM
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I think it's actually a Reading style caboose.
http://www.readingrailroad.org/multimedia/images/rcths_caboose_2.jpg
http://www.readingrailroad.org/multimedia/ref_multimedia_index.html
Gilbert started making that type early on and I think Penn Line followed with their own version. Varney & Life-Like later made them in plastic. That tooling may still be kicking around somewhere.
The Tyco Depot
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waw47
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 1:09:54 PM
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It is a Varney.
Gilbert was the first to produce this style of caboose in 1947, followed by Varney in 1950 and finally Penn Line in 1956.
It is not Gilbert because their cabooses have coupler pockets molded into the plastic caboose shell. It is not Penn Line because the words PENN LINE are embossed on the diecast underframe. Varney used this diecast frame from 1950 to 1958.
Most Penn Line freight cars were produced by someone else. The box cars, gondolas and reefer were made by Mantua/Tyco. The tank car, hooper and cabooses were made by Varney. The Penn Line caboose underframe was derived from the Varney diecast frame of the early 1950s.
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 2:03:35 PM
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| Who’s right and who’s wrong, I just don’t know! On one had we have IVRR325 who said with straight conviction “It's a Penn Line”! After reading his post I agreed with him even though I never seen a Penn Line caboose. Then we have WAW47, who with his cool and calm demeanor, put it right on the table, “It’s a Varney”, and even backed his statement up with facts. I just don’t know who is right!! I’m waiting for my man Jerry, GIC, or the big CATfordken to come in and help solve this conundrum…..
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 3:34:46 PM
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The Varney / Penn Line connection seems to be one shrouded in great mystery. 
Old diecast Gilbert cabeese are easily recognizable by the one piece end railings & ladders and straight smokejack, and a giant bulb socket in the center of the floor on illuminated versions. The early ones were really crude.
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 7:38:11 PM
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Toptrain may have the best answer- his image of the C & E I caboose in a brighter red scheme made me look again carefully at my caboose shell. It appears that there is a C and an I on the sides, painted over it seems, by the person who decaled it for the Pennsy. So, it is the same as Toptrain's image. But, of what true vintage?????
Ron
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waw47
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Posted - February 26 2013 : 8:31:43 PM
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| I stand corrected. Upon further examination of the photo you can see the C&EI letters on the shell. I was under the impression that all Penn Line cabooses had PENN LINE embossed on the diecast underframe. Evidently, the 1955 C&EI Penn Line caboose with Fleischmann trucks does not.
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Posted - February 27 2013 : 06:43:33 AM
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Penn Line cabooses used Varney shells on their die cast frames, the key difference being a tool box and cast on brake detail.
While the first run of Varney cabooses did use a cast underframe, I've never personally seen one. I suspect, however, that it was identical to the plastic replacement visually, and the Guide notes it had pockets for frame mount couplers and seperate brake detail. It also notes the cast frame was attached with brass rivets rather than screws.
Further, every pre-1959 Varney caboose I've seen is molded in dark red plastic. This shell appears to be the typical Penn Line grey/mix, painted red then brown.
I tend to suspect most Varney cast frames succumbed to rot over the years.
In addition to Varney, who's die went to Life-Like where it eventually died of old age and was replaced with a similar tool whch has sharper detail and a seperate cupola, the "Northeastern" caboose was mass produced by Gilbert, Lindberg (dies later to 1977-up Mantua), and a flat metal kit by Model Die Casting (Roundhouse) - who curiously in a last attempt to introduce a new product before being bought out by Horizon Hobby, modified their plastic SP caboose shell (itself a descendant of a cast caboose kit) to resemble a Northeastern caboose. Other modern era versions include an Eastern Car Works flat kit and the Proto 2000 cars.
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waw47
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Posted - February 27 2013 : 09:59:51 AM
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IVRR325
There is an excellent example of the first run Varney caboose (C3) with diecast frame on ebay. 380553236307
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Posted - February 27 2013 : 4:25:38 PM
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Well, now that I know it's a relatively "oldie, but a goodie", I have no problem with refurbishing it. Repainting the inside primer gray, picking a fresh exterior color, ( but first removing the decals and secondary paint job), some Kadees, window glazing and the right trucks with steel wheels and she will roll yet again for several decades!
Siouxlake Ron
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Posted - February 27 2013 : 4:44:38 PM
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I found mine
Its not like this one but it is similar
Bottom view
I missing the railings, ladders & one roof walk 
Plus I dunno who made it
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Posted - February 27 2013 : 5:34:30 PM
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That's a Model Die Casting/Roundhouse caboose. Which now is sold as an Athearn product.
Edited by - lvrr325 on February 27 2013 6:09:47 PM
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Posted - March 11 2013 : 11:09:55 PM
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It is a Penn Line shell.
I say this for I got one off e bay in a lot of stuff recently and dissasembled it for sadly I broke the shell roof end while moving stuIf and have begun quest for new shell
The pattern for the screws is the same as on mine as is the end rails
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