LayoutVision Model Rail Services
WP N Scale Caboose Opportunity
Former Site
New Home Page
Model RR Blog
Layout Design
Operations Planning
Opinions and Ideas
Design Gallery
Background
What's It Cost?
Results
Contact Me
A chance for a model that will never be produced in plastic -- if you help!

Update June 2006!
 
I continue to communicate with OMI and the company is still looking at these cabooses. But they are concerned about the demand and need to see more support from N scalers. If you have not yet done so, please, let OMI know that you would purchase one or more of these cabooses if produced in N scale by contacting Overland today. Thanks!

Western Pacific fans in N scale have plenty to be happy about lately. New loco offerings have been turning up in WP livery and there was even a MicroTrains caboose painted in the beautiful silver and orange scheme. (Although it was pretty expensive and the body style is not exactly correct, it sold out quickly).

But the models that have been missing are the characteristic and quirky Western Pacific / Sacramento Northern cabooses built out of old boxcars. The WP was a frugal road (because they were broke a lot of the time!) and they showed some ingenuity in turning old outside-braced wood boxcars into bay window and cupola cabooses.  These had a very long life, from the mid '40s when they were first built all the way to the 1980s when the WP stopped using cabooses.

Overland Models (OMI) has announced plans to import bay-window versions of these cabooses in HO Scale. (Some scales have all the luck!). Click here to see the HO scale offering.

wp_cab_150.gif
Prototype photo from Overland Models site

Since this means that the prototype research, development, and drawings are done, I asked OMI if they would develop and import N scale versions as well.

At least they didn't say no. Instead, Brian Marsh sent me a very gracious email. It seems they have not had great support for their N scale offerings but would be happy to do more, including the WP caboose, if they saw more interest from the N scale community. This is our best chance to have a beautifully made, prototypically appropriate model of a caboose that will likely never be offered in plastic. OMI needs to see the opportunity for 300-400 units.

If you would be interested in purchasing some of these models, please email OMI at:
info(at)overlandmodels(dot)com
(replace the words in parentheses with the appropriate symbols)
Or you may contact them via their website:
http://www.overlandmodels.com/ 

This is likely our best chance to get these unique models in N scale. Whether you are an N scale WP or SN fan, a modeler of connecting roads like SP, ATSF, GN, and D&RGW, or a collector of cabooses with a lot of personality, please let Overland know that you will support this model. Contact them today, while it's fresh in your mind.

(Disclaimer: I have nothing to personally gain from this effort financially, I just want to have the chance to buy the 6 or 8 cabooses I need for my own layout)

Thanks!