Santa Fe Cabooses - a compilation

AT&SF #678

An early caboose with side doors is still used in the postwar transition periode.

I painted and finished the brass model. 

Santa Fe #1089

A standard way car with wood-construction
For many decades this was the way cabooses were build.

With rear-end helpers pushing a heavy freight train on a steep grade, a wooden caboose had to be placed behind the helper engine. 

The model is built with wooden profiles like the real thing.

Santa Fe # 2155

When trains became heavier a new steel construction for cabooses made the working place of the train crews safer.

This caboose is a brass model.

Santa Fe #1516

In the late steam-area this kind of steel waycars have been very common on the Santa Fe network.
Santa Fe bought many of them, they also built large numbers in their own shops.
The various series have minor differencies.

This is a brass model I bought without paint and lettering.
I added some details as air-brake hoses, coupler levers and window glazing. 

Santa Fe # 1985

This way car is equipped to operate in pre-radio period

On the cupola a wig-wag-sign is installed to allow the crew to communicate to the distant locomotive crew

The all steel caboose is a brass model

Wig-Wag in action

The caboose-crew could inform the head-end to be ready to depart

ATSF #2273

Another version of a steel way car.
This type is built with peaked roof. This car is also equipped with the wig-wag-sign.

The model is brass import.

ATSF #1089

Back to the wooden area.
The original was built in wood, the same for the model.
The roof represents a tarpaper-construction. This specific car has the roof painted with black colour - ATSF had both versions brown and black.

This way car has seen many years of service - its colour is faded, there are traces of dirt accumulated. 

A row of Santa Fe cabooses are waiting on the yard track for their next assignment

The photo shows two steel models and an older wood model in between