Hi guys,
This post is prompted by the “Finish what you started!” post over in the General Discussion area.
A couple of years ago I learned that the Grande owned some standard gauge short cabooses, not unlike the narrow gauge ones that are so well known. I found a pic of one of them taken in 1951 in the Leadville, Colorado yard:
On further research I found three more decent pics of this same caboose. To my surprise, I also found out that it survives on a ranch within an hour of my house. I contacted the owner and he was more than happy to let me visit the caboose and take lots of pictures and dimensions.
I then drew up plans in AutoCAD. My son drew up the unique steps and I printed a set on our 3D printer. Last spring I began the car body but then summer came along and I set the project aside until last month. Here’s how it looked when work resumed - I am getting the water-soaked basswood to conform to the curvature of the roof:
The caboose will be finished up this weekend, more to come.
Cheers,
Matt Hutson
Nathrop, CO