In
the summer of 1997, I wanted to model a Rock Island caboose from the early
1950s. I am really a Baltimore and Ohio nut and at that time was
just beginning to get back into the hobby. I wanted to build a caboose
representative of the Eldon Division in 1952, the year my friend was born.
His dad was a brakeman on the Rock in �52 and went on to become a conductor
before he retired.
It became apparent that no one made a kit of a reasonably accurate crummy from that period for the Rock Island. After studying pictures, I decided to try to scratch-building an outside braced one. I had never scratch built anything before, so it presented several challenges.
I built up the floor from styrene strip and the sides and ends from styrene sheet, which I hand scribed. I started these over twice for different reasons. The doors and main body windows are pewter castings. I used etched brass for the end grates and steps. I could go on and on. Suffice to say that it took me 2+ years of tinkering around trying to figure out how to do different things, doing some of them over to get a result that I could live with.
My friend was more than pleased and surprised when I showed him. He had no idea I had been working on this. I came to find out that his uncle and grandfather were also conductors on the Rock Island, and just before he was born, his granddad had died.
Since a local photographer wanted $100 for close-up pictures, I decided to do the best I could myself. I want to mention that all the lighting I used seemed to distort the weathering in these prints. In natural light it is more subtle, especially the wheels and trucks. Also, that is supposed to be a 5-gallon pail in front of the brakeman. His dad used one to carry along garden tools, etc. for the tomato patch he kept in Eldon.
For me, it�s back to the B&O but guess what? No one makes B&O caboose kits anywhere near the prototypes for 1955, which is my era. With this experience and some drawings, I know that I can make reasonable likenesses -- if I live long enough.
Gregory C. Stevens.