Transfer cabooses were used for cross-town hops between yards. In the post-caboose era they have been used as “shoving platforms” providing a place for the brakeman or conductor to ride and be the engineer’s eyes during long backup moves. They did not have cupolas or bay windows, cots or amenities. In fact many didn’t have electricity. Most were built in the railroad’s own shops.

Norfolk & Western Transfer Cabooses. N&W built 63 transfer cabooses for themselves at their Roanoke Shops between 1966 and 1968. Cars repainted after 1971 received this paint scheme. Note the placement of the road numbers varied from car to car and we are replicating this detail.

33010 Norfolk & Western #518711 $49.95
33011 Norfolk & Western #518741 $49.95.

All Bluford Shops cabooses come ready-to-run with Kadee #5 couplers, metal wheels, wire grab irons and cut levers and appropriate trucks for the road name. Each road number is sold separately. We are still in the process of cutting the tooling on all five caboose variations.

Delivery of this group is expected in 2013. First draft artwork is shown here and is subject to improvement by our crack development team.