Bachmann CB&Q Caboose

[Seaboard]

Bachmann quietly and with no real fanfare, upgraded their HO streamlined end cupola caboose with new finer endrailings and separate roof walk.

The model closely matches CB&Q prototype NE12 and NE12a cabooses built by the CB&Q at their Havelock shops in 1954 and 1960.  CB&Q road numbers were NE12, 13525 to 13559 and NE12a 13560 to 13589; they made it into the BN era and BN paint.  The BN road numbers were NE12 10391 to 10425 and NE12a 10331 to 10360.  Some of these ended up being modified into MOW crew cars.

A company called "Q Connection" offers a laser cut window set for the older Bachmann model, which I believe uses the same body for the new version.

With the laser cut windows and the new Tahoe Model Works Barber Bettendorf swing motion caboose truck, a very nice detailed CB&Q or BN caboose could be modeled with little effort using the upgraded model.

The problem is the upgraded caboose is only available in Bachmann train sets.  What will it take to get Bachmann to offer this upgraded caboose as a separate part?

If anyone on this forum has one of the new versions of the caboose that they would like to sell, I would be very much interested in buying it.  Thanks.

Larry