By Bob Gentile

Author  Bio This past March I attended the East Coast Show, in York PA. I purchased an AMS Caboose. So my thought was that I was going to run a caboose with my K-27 that has RCS system and I thought it was going to be an easy task.

This past March I attended the East Coast Show in York, PA. As I browsed thru the Dealer Hall I came across a Dealer selling AMS rolling stock. I am modeling in 1/20 scale and he had an AMS Caboose on sale needless to say I purchased it.

When I returned from the show I inspected it and it was equipped with lighting. So my thought was I was going to run the caboose with my K-27 that has a RCS system. So I needed to remove the cabfrom the floor and I thought it was going to be an easy task. I turned the caboose over and saw 4 screws to remove the cab from the floor. Piece of cake.

You can see by the photo that there are holes inside and close to the bolsters. I removed those 4 screws and tried to lift the cab off the floor. Well one side came up easy as you can see in the photo.

Something was keeping the other side from coming of the floor. After investigating I found that the tabs on the bottom of the cab to the rear of the caboose are underneath the bunk beds!

So here we go with the surgery. I used a thin straight blade screwdriver and very carefully pried the bunk off the floor.

Notice the circuit board it is for the interior lighting and the marker lights. I removed the yellow and white wires on the circuit board to remove the Cab completely. You will see those wires when I reinstall the Cab. My next step was to mark the bunks.

Once I removed the bunks with the marks on them, I cut them with my Dremel tool.

For the cross cut, I used a utility knife, scribed it, and it just snapped off.

I forgot to mention the reason for cutting those notches are so the tabs on the bottom of the cab slide in and sit on the floor.

Now the Cab can be reinstalled without a struggle. The yellow and white wire I mentioned above come into play at this point.

Slide the Cab on (half way down) and reinstall the wires. The next step is to put the Cab on the floor, turn it over and install the 4 screws. And that completes the process for taking the Cab off and for easier access next time.

A little side note: if you prefer, you can make the yellow and white wires a little longer prior to the reinstallation of the Cab.When time permits I will install the batteries for the lighting and will write a follow-up article.

Actually, it took more time to figure out what was keeping the cab from coming off the floor then to do the fix.

Keep the steam up and blow the whistle at the crossing.

AMS Caboose

It's funny how things that seem to be simple turn-out to be a pain in your caboose.

Orlando Gomez - 05/06/2009 - 04:34

Caboose Cab Removal

Gator (The Wood Butcher) Thanks for the article. Finding and modifying the bunk bottoms for access to the mounting screws will save others time when attempting to remove the cab. It's usually the case that what seems simple turns out to be just a little more than expected.

JD Miller - 05/06/2009 - 07:41

getting into the caboose

Here I've been trying to get the roof off--the way you describe it, it still sounds to me like the caboose was assembled from the floor up, so access should be from the top. gj

Glenn Joesten - 05/06/2009 - 08:20

AMS Caboose

Jd You are welcome,Glenn the caboose was built from the floor up. Talked to someone at AMS and he confirmed it. I asked him what if the bulbs had to be replaced,his answer was you would have to remove the bunks. Good plan wouldn't you say.I tried to remove the top of the cab but the glue they used makes it real tuff to do. Bob

Bob Gentile - 05/06/2009 - 10:48

AMS Caboose

Gator: Isn't it always the case. Whenever you think a project will be easy, it turns out to be a tuff nut. Thanks for sharing your pics and the problem.

Jim O'Connor - 05/06/2009 - 17:09

AMS Caboose

Hi Bob I know why it was so difficult, you have number 0579 and I have 0578 which pops right off!

Don Sweet - 05/06/2009 - 19:28

Hammer Time

Don, How many hammer blows before it popped off?

Peter De Keles - 05/06/2009 - 22:54

Hammer

Peter Actually the bunks came out easy. Now the crew sleeps on the floor because I am not putting the bunks back.LOL Bob

Bob Gentile - 05/08/2009 - 03:39

GATOR ARTICLES

Too few and far between on Bob's aricles.

Joe Wilson - 05/11/2009 - 15:37

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