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.

Missouri-Kansas-Texas red Transfer Cabooses. Katy’s caboose #5 rolled out of their shops in May of 1961. We are presenting it in red with the “KATY” shield version adopted by the John W. Barriger administration in 1965. Katy’s transfer cabooses could be found in Kansas City, Dallas-Ft. Worth, St. Louis and Katy’s main hub of Dennison, Texas.

35050 Missouri-Kansas-Texas red #5 $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. Tooling for this body style is in the works.

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