There is a letter about these CPR cabooses printed on page 328 of Volume 75
of Railway Age. Written by V.T. Boughton of New York.
Boughton writes the CPR abandoned these side-bay window cabooses "after many
months of trial" and after an order by the board of railway commissioners
"after there had been several accidents in which men sitting in the bays had
been injured in side-swipes or by objects protruding from passing trains".
Also the bays were so close to the track the view was obscured by swirling
dust and snow cloud. The bays were too close to side of the train to make it
possible to observe the train except on curves in one direction. The bays
required the observer to sit in an unnatural position for long periods of
time. The cupola was better such that when the window view was obscured by
snow the trainman can put his head out occasionally to get a fairly good
look at the train.
What year was Vol. 75 of Railway Age Gazette published?
In my collection I have photos of bay-window cabooses 436283 and 436309.
These were built in 1912 as a series of 78 cars. And I have a CPR builder
photo of 436468 which is in a series of 136 cars built in 1913. Car 436468
has a date lettered on the side but it's hard to tell whether it is Apr or
Aug 19 1913. Of course there are a couple folios of bay window cars and 1
general arrangement drawing in the CPHA Library too.
Too bad there isn't more know about the car because they're interesting.
Jeff
