Order deadline 15 June https://rapidotrains.com/n-scale/freight-cars/wide-vision-caboose.html Got some on order
Look as though the deadline was already passed. I would love to have ordered the Milwaukee Road issues. I worked there and was on the crew for the order which installed the roofs on the BN and MILW units. The MILW units were attached to the end of that BN order. However, the order page shows numbers "992302, 992305". Where did they come up with these? Those numbers never existed. Only two were ever built for the MILW. They were numbered 992300, 992301. There was a well known fake caboose painted up for display in Montana. #992303 was actually ex-BN #10066, (originally GN X-146), in disguise. And there are other fakes as well. Guess I'll have to pass.
Don't worry about the dead line date they still seem to be accepting orders. As for the bad numbers ; Rapido Trains is usually good with their prototype info. I guess a question for them.
As you said Boxcab "However, the order page shows numbers "992302, 992305". Where did they come up with these? Those numbers never existed. Only two were ever built for the MILW. They were numbered 992300, 992301." Took a look at railpictures.net and it confirms your info Maybe Rapido can change their numbers, I will ask.
As noted earlier, I had a hand in the actual building of those two cabooses. A quick contact with the Milwaukee Road Historical Association will easily confirm my statement. Also, I WAS a long, long time member of that group, (I am from a MILW family as well), and for many years on their magazine staff- as part of the group which reviewed articles and captions for accuracy.
This is just a wild guess here, but... I don't KNOW this for 100% sure, but I am led to believe that these cabooses aren't exactly prototypical for the BN (and by proxy MILW as you say) so it may be a situation where they chose numbers just outside the proto range on purpose. Among other things, it would accommodate those who had--for example--already kitbashed the two actual MILW cars. This would allow them to still add to their fleet if they accepted the compromises without renumbering them. Again, that is just a postulation on my part. I have no inside knowledge of the situation, and they could very well be spot-on for BN. I just read that somewhere and haven't confirmed it.
No luck contacting them, usually they do respond fairly quickly. Canada day etc. so people maybe on vacation.
Yes. I received an email from them yesterday morning, stating the same. Was busy and forgot to get it mentioned here. Good to know a manufacturer is not just responsive, but also has the smarts to make real changes!
Received mine the other day and they are beauties fro sure. very sharp models and they roll very well. Only complaint I have (so far) is the uncoupling lever detail parts are jamming up the couplers so they will have to be removed or modified somehow.
