Micro-Trains CA-13 Caboose - Union Pacific

[CRL]

Just received my new MT CA-13 UP Caboose. Very nicely done. Only thing I’m wary of is the teeny tiny etched brass radio antenna (?) kit included. I seriously doubt I’ll be adding this fine little detail, even though I’m sure it would look great for the short amount of time it would last on an operating layout.

In reality, I can barely see it by shining a light at just the right angle, so I’m confident I no longer possess the manual dexterity assemble & install it... so it’s a moot point for me.

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[Sokramiketes]

No need to fret, the parts are Southern Pacific specific, which is the prototype on which the caboose was based.  In UP colors, I'd leave them off anyway.

[Curtis Kyger]

I'm not so sure.... Weren't these the former Rock Island cabooses inherited by the UP?  If so, didn't they also come to the UP equipped with Southern Pacific style lights and radio antennas?

[CRL]

I'm not so sure.... Weren't these the former Rock Island cabooses inherited by the UP?  If so, didn't they also come to the UP equipped with Southern Pacific style lights and radio antennas?

This is correct, so my crew will be using walkie talkies after their antenna was knocked off by a falling rock. It’s a “pool” cab anyway, so nobody really cares.

[Albert in N]

  For reference here are photos of my unmodified Athearn Rock Island, Southern Pacific, and Micro Trains Line Missouri Pacific bay windows.  The Athearn Rock Island bay window lacks the SP roof circular antenna, which seems correct based upon my memory of seeing the real things some 30+ years ago.  Call me lazy on the brass roof parts kit.  I bought the MTL SP bay window when it came out 10+ years ago.  I never tackled the brass roof embellishment kit and traded it off when Athearn came out with their bay windows.  Yes, both MTL and Athearn both have wheel generator detail cast onto one side rear truck per prototype.  One of these days, I will look into buying a decent digital camera so I don't have to take so many photos outside.  The flash on my 16 meg Fugifilm AX655 is finicky. 

[CRL]

Per prototype photo, appears all roof mounted accessories are gone except stovepipe.

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[cjm413]

Per prototype photo, appears all roof mounted accessories are gone except stovepipe.

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The prototype photo also shows a diagonal panel roof.   Unless you have a photo that shows an antenna that is driving you nuts, there's not much to gain by putting it on an X-panel roof.

[Albert in N]

The prototype UP caboose is interesting.  The bug screen over windows reminds me of the one on my brass UP caboose.  Now that MTL has distributed their new UP caboose, I am eagerly anticipating their new Santa Fe cupola caboose.  Right now, I still run the old Model Power simple caboose with the rapido coupler trucks replaced with MTLs.  Just to show how far we have come in N scale, my old Korean brass caboose sits between a Bachmann UP trainset wide vision and the Santa Fe Model Power trainset caboose.  The new Micro Trains Line cabeese will be a notch forward.  Unlike these three, MTL now has window "glass", plus extra add on detail parts for the "rivet counters".   UPDATE: Fifer Hobbies now has MTL Santa Fe cabeese, so I ordered mine!   

[Albert in N]

   This afternoon my MTL Santa Fe caboose from Fifer Hobby arrived in the mail box in front of my house.  The USPS two day priority mail was right on time.  My camera does not do it justice.  The small fire cracker antenna was already installed and there were no detail parts for the customer to install.  I used a strong magifying glass to read the "stop, think, prevent accidents" sign on the side.  All the lettering is crisp and sharp.  Even the front and rear numbers on the cupola were there.  The only thing missing that I noted was no wheel generator, but possibly not all prototype cabeese had them.  MTL's bay window cabeese have them.  Frankly, I am impressed by the quality and workmanship.  Even the coupler pins are now darkened. 

[CRL]

My UP cab has a wheel generator, but it’s really hard to see on the shiny delrin plastic truck. I’ll have to get some dry brush rust in there to make it pop better.

[Albert in N]

Micro-Trains Line was correct, there were no external wheel generators on offset  cupola cabeese (or cabooses?) at least on this one.  On September 17, 2014, I passed through Lindsay OK and stopped at the city museum, now housed in the old Santa Fe depot.  When Santa Fe closed this branch in the late 1970s, they left a few feet of track with a boxcar and this caboose for the city of Lindsay OK.  It appears that this caboose may have had a wheel generator connected inside the wheelset.  Since the caboose was left in place, the wheels are locked with utilities piped in from the outside.  Here are a few photos.  With Covid, I may not be going through Lindsay for another year or two.

[CBQ Fan]

I am still surprised at how scarce steel UP cabooses are from the 50’s & 60’s.   With all the UP engines being made I am surprised that they aren’t more readily available. I have the MT wood version.

[CRL]

I went for YEARS using that little wood MT Wood UP Caboose because that’s all I had. I finally bought a pair of the brass Key Imports UP CA-11 cabs several years ago. Then suddenly, within the last 2 years, I’ve acquired more UP steel cabs than I can say grace over because a couple of manufacturers all of a sudden noticed there weren’t any cabs being made.

[CBQ Fan]

UP is a secondary road on my layout so brass is not an option because I would rather spend that money on my main focus. 

[wazzou]

UP is a secondary road on my layout so brass is not an option because I would rather spend that money on my main focus.

I remember picking up Hallmark UP CA-8 and CA-9 cabooses brand new for $39.99 when released.