What happened to the Lionel Strasburg caboose?

David Conwill Nov 16, 2011

  1. David Conwill

    David Conwill TrainBoard Member

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    Last Christmas, I bought the Lionel Strasburg passenger train to run around the tree. One of the factors in buying it was that Lionel also made a caboose, so I figured ultimately I could switch out the passenger cars for the caboose and various combinations of freight cars.

    This year, I walked into my local hobby shop to see about buying the caboose, and find it’s been discontinued. They are calling their distributors to see if anyone has one in stock, but I’m a bit puzzled by its disappearance.

    Lionel still offers a range of "Strasburg" freight cars, so why no caboose? Have people forgotten its function in the era of FREDs? I can’t have a steam-powered freight train circling my tree without a caboose!

    Perhaps tellingly, there were very few cabooses in stock, and none of them the traditional bright red color one would expect. While I was there, another person called in seeking a red caboose and was told they’d have to call around to the distributors to find one. Weird.

    -Dave
     
  2. rg5378

    rg5378 TrainBoard Member

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    In a similiar vein, Lionel did the same to me. I was thinking about going into S scale. One of the factors in my decision was that Lionel was going to make an Sd-40. I bought track and some old AF stuff while waiting for sd-40 production to begin. The production time came and went. After waiting an extra 3 months, I found out, through my hobby shop person, that Lionel decided not to make it. Dissapointed, I went back to HO scale.
     
  3. Greg Elems

    Greg Elems Staff Member

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    Dave,
    Did the Strasburg caboose actually show up from China? It might still be in the production phase. Lionel, like MTH has had issues with equipment getting produced in a timely manor. I'd go to the Lionel web page and see if it shows a delivery yet.

    Cary,
    I know what you mean about the Lionel SD40. I too was waiting for it and severely disappointed when they canceled the engine. Their reason for canceling was lack of interest. Hard to say. But on the other hand, Lionel is producing a U33C and it's going to be a reality. Granted it's a year behind delivery date but they showed production samples at York this year.

    Greg
     
  4. David Conwill

    David Conwill TrainBoard Member

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    I found it on the Lionel website, but I don't see anything regarding delivery. I do recall seeing a message somewhere saying something along the lines of "this item has been discontinued, but some dealers have received it in the past, please check with them to see if they have one in stock." I have a standing eNay search for Strasburg stuff, though, which turns up plenty of variety but no cabooses, which would tend to lend credence to the theory that none have reached our shores.

    That is too bad. Anybody make an undecorated O-scale caboose?

    -Dave
     
  5. David Conwill

    David Conwill TrainBoard Member

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  6. David Conwill

    David Conwill TrainBoard Member

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    Well, it seems I've struck out finding a deadstock caboose, so I purchased a lot of three postwar Lionel cabooses: two 6257s and a 6017. They haven't arrived yet, but when they do, I will evaluate and the lesser of the two 6257s may become a Strasburg caboose when/if I can find decals.

    -Dave
     

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