Bachmann has released its model of the D&RGW long caboose. Bob "choo-choo" Green has loaned me one of the early releases to examine and write a review on. I know GR had a review this month on this caboose, but I am going to take my shot at it.
The Rio Grande built all of its own cabooses. They started with the short ones in the 1870's and finished up with this long model around 1890. Needless to say, they were all modified and repainted over the years, so they did not remain in their original "as built" condition. Bachmann makes this model in five flavors; The D&RGW model, RGS with single window cupola windows, Rio Grand with the flying herald, Unlettered in Oxide Brown, and Unlettered in Oxide Red. The model scales out to
17 5/8" L X 4 1/2" W X 7 1/2" H. The models weighs about 5 pounds, so it will put a load on your locomotive. I think the caboose would be happier being a K-27 rather than one of the smaller locomotives.
The underbody detail of this caboose is perfect along with the trucks and couplers. The end platforms look right when compared to pictures I have in a book. The interior is extremely well detailed with bunks, stove, tables, and even two working kero lamps. It is a shame that this detail is lost unless the roof is removed. To remove the roof, your best shot is to remove the curved end ladder extensions on the long end and slide the roof off. I would probably do this when I received the caboose just to look, and maybe to put a figure or two in place. Other than that it is a tricky operation that requires a very small phillips screw driver. The marker lamps on this caboose are ugly on this model even though they are lighted. This does not fit with the scale detail on the rest of the model. I would replace them with better detailed lighted brass ones, that are more in line with the quality of the caboose model.
This caboose has a circuit board under one of the bench seats with a dummy socket installed. This must be removed if you are installing a DCC decoder. Under the opposite bench seat is a battery compartment for a couple of AA batteries. To install batteries you will have to remove the roof. A rechargeable battery pack with an external charging jack would be ideal for this installation, so that the roof would not have to be removed to change batteries. Under the car are two switches. One is labeled DCC/battery/off and the other is labeled marker lights/table lamps/both.
Couplers are body mount only. As always Bachmann includes both the scale couplers and the lowered couplers to match truck mounted rolling stock. I would only run this car on wide-radius track due to its length and the fact that it has body mounted couplers.
In all, this is another great scale model for your 1:20.3 fleet. It definitely will be at home on any Colorado narrow gauge railroad.
