Stockyard Industrial Lead: Caboose Operations on my Small Switching Layout

This video explains the main reasons behind using a caboose for my local job on my small switching layout, a model railroad set in the South Omaha/Bellevue in the mid-1990s. The caboose is used more as a shoving platform so the crew has a safe place to ride at the front of the train when shoving to the industries at the end of the layout in Bellevue.
Website for the Stockyard Industrial Lead:
stockyardlead.com/
Facebook page for the Stockyard Industrial Lead:
/ stockyardlead
SPSF and SOT Merchandise:
www.redbubble.com/people/eric...

[@SouthDown]

Love your caboose roster, and nice to learn on how you use them in your operations. Your choice of faded livery for your fleet works rather well especially with that thin layer of patina. As you ask, I use a caboose as an additional challenge in the switching process. Genuinely impressed you can speak so well, with no hesitation, while recording live: quite a skill. Thanks for sharing!

[@kraigsickels3918]

Nice operation video 👍

[@emillerz]

Thanks!

[@atsf81rj]

Long live the caboose

[@TouchoftheBrushModelWeathering]

Awesome operations. A caboose definitely can add extra operations and a challenge amd I love cabooses for that purpose plus you can see the end of the train and know of it has uncoupled midway lol

[@emillerz]

Yes, totally agree!

[@rickrodrick1978]

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing. I liked that you showed allowing for the things the prototype must do like taking time for the people on the ground to get where they must be and testing brakes and such. I'm just returning to model railroading with a small switching layout so it's a nice reminder of how take make operations fun. My former layout, nearly 20 years ago, filled a 18 x35 foot room double decked so the switching is very different!

[@emillerz]

Thanks for the comment! I really enjoy the prototypical stuff. Glad to hear you are getting back in the hobby and getting into a small switching layout with fun operations. Yes that does sound a lot different from your previous layout!

[@oubrioko]

2:44 While that certainly is a transfer _style_ caboose, Missouri Pacific designed and built those cabooses in their DeSoto, Missouri shops for use as mainline road cabooses in the mid-1970s. Union Pacific even borrowed one to use as inspiration for their own CA-11 and CA-12 bay-windowed cabooses built by _International Car Company_ in Kenton, Ohio several years before UP acquired Missouri Pacific in a merger. These were the last new cabooses used by MP. The merged UP/MP used them along with UP's new CA-11s and CA-12s on mainline freights well into the late 1980s.

[@emillerz]

Thanks for the detailed info on the MP and UP cabooses, very interesting!

[@grantbassett2048]

"Hi Eric, always watch your new Vid on a Sunday. Calm but very interesting. Ive said it before but love that bridge scene. Im thinking of a L shape layout. switching on each end. And a bridge and water & trees scene in the middle to break them both up, as in 2 different towns. That book you said really has helped ideas, and of course your videos have too. Since i live in England i cant just pop out watch some Switching in real life. Good job people like you video it. Keep safe & keep well my Friend. Cheers Grant ; )

[@emillerz]

Thanks for stopping by and watching again! The plan for your L-shape layout sounds perfect. Stay safe and healthy as well!

[@JohnMullerJDGCTRy]

Thanks for sharing.

[@cbrailroader642]

Very nice! Love that pain scheme. My layout will be in early 70’s so will definitely have cabooses and since I will be early BN merger it will have BN and CBQ cabooses.

[@emillerz]

That sounds awesome! Thanks for watching and for the comment.

[@charleskelsey4947]

I will be using cabooses on my layout. My timeline 70’s to 80’s area spring time to summer Shelf three layout BN on the bottom shelf top shelf The Rock so they meet in the middle

[@emillerz]

That sounds awesome! I love being able to use cabooses and your layout has a great concept.

[@rhoobarb773]

As always, love your videos, Eric. Maybe I missed it, but I’d love to know how you did the river scene. I’ve done one river scene myself and I’m about to do another. Yours looks so well done - subtle, yet so very realistic!

[@emillerz]

Thanks! This video covers most of the scenery in the creek area. I still need to finish this up with trees and other things.
th-cam.com/video/HsRIOUV4gq0/w-d-xo.html

[@25mfd]

really nice vid... NJ international HAD some really good looking blue flags on their site (emphasis on had)... you have to be really lucky to catch them when they have out of stock items

[@emillerz]

Interesting, I will have to look those up, thanks!

[@garypyke1576]

Great video. Who made the lumber load on your center beam?

[@emillerz]

I got them from Hobby Smith in Portland, Oregon. I have ordered them online and I actually bought this one at the real store.
www.hobbysmith.com/index.php/lumber-loads/ho-lumber-loads

[@emillerz]

I believe this is the specific load that I purchased, one that fits the old McKean/Front Range centerbeam flatcar.
www.hobbysmith.com/index.php/lumber-loads/ho-lumber-loads/scales-sets/ho-hon3/ho-lumber/general-60-lumber-loads-280-298-detail

[@DinsdalePiranha67]

7:50 Is that a DeLorean parked near the grade crossing?

[@emillerz]

You bet! That's one of the local railfans. He is instantly recognizable because of the car.

[@crazymanbbqcompany1592]

You are long winded