Tin Work Caboose

I have a 500 series work caboose but no you don't see them often.  My guess is sales or lack of maybe.  Like everything else if there isn't enough demand they won't make it.   Like the standard gauge subway cars for instance.  I think those would have been cool. 

Oh dear, you've touched a sensitive nerve...in my wife, especially! 

Two 'Yorks' ago she acquired a 500-series crane.  She was told it was a 'prototype', and, as such, came in a foam cradle, but no box/papers.  The dealer we bought it from had a reputation for having MTH/LCT prototypes, so we accepted verbal provenance.  Besides, we knew that the item had, indeed, been made and catalogued, the condition was excellent throughout, and.....the price was fair and right.  'Sale, Mr. Humphries!!'

Of course, the same purveyor did NOT have the complementing Work Caboose, 10-2004.   

The search has been ON!!!  WTB's have been posted.  Shows attended.  Listings reviewed.  Auction lots previewed.  ......to no avail......so far.

Now, to some degree this becomes an element of 'fun'.....THE SEARCH FOR THE ELUSIVE!  Maybe we're looking TOO hard.  After all, the crane was not on our search list when it suddenly appeared on the York table.  OTOH, as soon as she got back to her beloved computer following the crane purchase, she perused Ebay......only to find that the very Work Caboose she needed had been sold...at a fair price....a few weeks earlier!!  And, never to be seen again.

So, yes....we'd like to see the 500-series Work Cabooses run again.  But, from discussions with MTH poohbahs at the recent York meet, that may be a stretch.....tinplate sales volumes are apparently getting 'thinner', harder to justify production minimums.

So, we'll continue the search.....with patience.

KD

 Hey KD

I feel your pain I have seen some of them on that familiar auction site however I am not willing to pay 150 to $200 and above just to have one.

JoeG

Not looking hard enough. Quick search shows 2 sold 500 series work cabooses sold in last 90 days on e-bay.

FWIW, I made this one out of a blue McCoy drover's caboose, which can often be found on eBay for around $30.

Have one very nice item I will post a picture later today.

Really glad I have one thought about selling it a few times. Was it made in other colors.

I have the apple green in the 200 series, Probably will sell and put it towards passenger cars. I prefer tinplate passenger cars over freight.

Sunrise

Sunrise, I have the same car and I do kinda like it.  This and the 221 ore car were MTH's earlier stab at "new tooling" standard gauge and I think they did okay with it.  I have my work caboose paired with a vintage crane car - of course - and an R & L track cleaning car to make a nifty little "work train".  

david