SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #1 Posted December 10, 2019 “Uncle Jim...Trains have real cabooses!!!” ...And so once again, incessant passenger demands for more seating and a period authentic train experience have me designing and fabricating a “caboose” for the Sylvan Lake & Wheel Horse Northern Rail Road... This time the frame is an old stacked chair cart once destined for the dumpster... Basic design: seating for two high sides roof chimney colors... uhm, red with black trim (hood)...catchy huh? Pic is of my design consultants / assistant wrenches, the video is of the current SL&WHN RR set up in action, and a shot of the caboose and associated parts waiting paint, final fabrication and assembly... I am informed by my twin nephews that a Christmas Day ride is expected... so the pressure is on...seating for 9...ALL ABOARD! Need to get final design measurements so appropriate graphics can be ordered from @Vinylguy...! Stay tuned! 9FC297EC-2AD6-4276-B32B-F9BA84CBD558.MOV 4 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,307 #2 Posted December 10, 2019 Oh this is gonna be good.... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,509 #3 Posted December 10, 2019 Can't wait to see the final product. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,093 #4 Posted December 10, 2019 Guess you better place your order now so the train crew can have their own Railroad Engineer caps and bib overalls. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #5 Posted December 10, 2019 You're about as ambitious as I am. Looking forward to seeing the finished product on this one pretty cool idea too!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #6 Posted December 14, 2019 Painted the red panels (brush on regal red) tonight in the garage with the electric heaters going long enough to get them to tack up so I can move to basement without stinking the house up... black parts tomorrow...! Also have @Vinylguy working on the graphics...! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #7 Posted December 14, 2019 Black paint done! Hitch design next... Final assembly follows... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #8 Posted December 17, 2019 (edited) She’s done (except for graphics)!!! Field trials await... Edited December 17, 2019 by SylvanLakeWH 2 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
R Scheer 502 #9 Posted December 18, 2019 That'll keep the kids happy! Nice job. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #10 Posted December 18, 2019 Just waiting on graphics... I’m pretty happy with how it rides... Testing crews will be here over the Christmas break...! 1 1 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #11 Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) One year for camping, we set up our tandem bike with a tag along (three peddlers) pulling a kiddie/baby cart, pulling two big wheeled radio flyer wagons. I think I could keep 11 kids busy at once, if I recall. You’re starting to make me relive those memories! edit... a recount tells me 9 of us total was the norm. We shoulda added some pegs to the bikes! Edited December 18, 2019 by pullstart 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,307 #12 Posted December 18, 2019 13 minutes ago, pullstart said: shoulda How do you do something like that and not get a video ??!!?? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #13 Posted December 18, 2019 11 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: How do you do something like that and not get a video ??!!?? Need to wait for official testers to arrive. Beta tests don’t count with the “suits” I deal with...! Besides if I post video the patents might get stolen! Promise they will be posted...! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #14 Posted December 18, 2019 28 minutes ago, pullstart said: One year for camping, we set up our tandem bike with a tag along (three peddlers) pulling a kiddie/baby cart, pulling two big wheeled radio flyer wagons. I think I could keep 11 kids busy at once, if I recall. You’re starting to make me relive those memories! edit... a recount tells me 9 of us total was the norm. We shoulda added some pegs to the bikes! Uhm... pictures? You know this place...Didn’t happen if no pics... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,307 #15 Posted December 18, 2019 Just now, SylvanLakeWH said: Need to wait for official testers to arrive. Beta tests don’t count with the “suits” I deal with...! Besides if I post video the patents might get stolen! Promise they will be posted...! Oh no... Not you I have trust you'll provide us with a great and proper photo documentation!!!! I didn't hit enough words on quote. I was bustin' on @pullstart for non pic takin.... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #16 Posted December 18, 2019 All together look like a WheelHorse Road Train. pretty cool. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #17 Posted December 18, 2019 41 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Uhm... pictures? You know this place...Didn’t happen if no pics... Maybe in a scrap book somewhere... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 6,991 #18 Posted December 19, 2019 2 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Oh no... Not you I have trust you'll provide us with a great and proper photo documentation!!!! I didn't hit enough words on quote. I was bustin' on @pullstart for non pic takin.... I thought we settled this issue with the discussion about tire mounting a while back. You know, Pullstart is such a fine upstanding truthful character? 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #19 Posted December 20, 2019 QA / QC guys in for the evening to do the final once over before graphics and release for road duty... @Vinylguy has them done and in the mail! They were very pleased with the design and functionality, however they had two concerns: 1. A chimney without smoke? C’mon Uncle Jim... and... 2. No kitchen...(They informed me very seriously that “real cabooses have kitchens”)... Hhhhmmm... So before Christmas morning I will need to come up with a “smoke” source...any ideas? Preferably one that won’t get me in trouble with all the moms... Secondly, I am thinking “no” to the kitchen and simply tell them that this caboose gets its food delivered via Uber Eats at various stops... any better ideas? Finally, ordered 24 wooden train whistles for Christmas morning... All riders will get a complimentary whistle as long as they use it to annoy their parents and our neighbors... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,800 #20 Posted December 20, 2019 I bet a multi pack of smoke bombs aughtta do the trick! Light a red one, toss it in the muffler outlet and black duct tape the inlet shut... CHOOOOO CHOOOOO!!! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 6,991 #21 Posted December 20, 2019 Yup. They are right about kitchens. The long haul cabooses had some sort of arrangements for cooking. Not all of the smaller cabooses used on local short haul and work trains had cooking arrangements. Guess you will have to obtain a Work Horse so you can justify having a work caboose. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,493 #22 Posted December 26, 2019 Well, the SL&WHN RR was a big Christmas hit!!! Big smiles and they all went away with their own official train whistle to toot!!! Did have one uhm... malfunction... caboose came off the train... of course the video crew caught it all... and my QA / QC guys were in it at the time!!! I am sure I will get a visit from the OSHA train safety division now ... ECA1EF3F-5700-44CD-AB77-E4E222FB3A45.MOV 057DA514-71AE-437C-A416-400714130D8E.MOV 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites