my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt Caboose

Class C-40-6

bay window type

SP #1700-1749

SSW #46-57

62 units built

later rebuilds SP #4300-4328

29 units rebuilt

C-40-6's were built by International Car for both SP and Cotton Belt in 1965-66, SP #1700-1749 and SSW #46-57. Built to the same specs as the C-40-5's except these were totally welded cars. SP cabs when new had sliding aluminum screens on the bay windows.

Starting in 1973 one caboose from each class C-40-4, C40-5, C-40-6, C-40-7 and C-50-3 was rebuilt and renumbered. Most changes were internal, chemical retention toilets (no more sewer chute), roofwalks and end ladders were deleted and electrical and radio equipment was upgraded. Starting in 1974 thru early 1975, forty four 16xx series were rebuilt becoming the 42xx series class. As with the loco rebuilding programs, cabooses were given the next number out, so they were not renumbered sequentially with their old numbers.

from D. Scott Chatfield: C-40-6 notes:

The C-40-6 (built by International Car in 1965) though, are quite another matter. If you look at a photo, you'll notice that the C-40-6, like all other contemporary ICC cabs, had an overhanging roof and was welded. This is NOT minor, and hence, they were NOT identical.
While I can't tell from the photos in Strapac's 1981 SP Annual if the C-40-5s have that flat (non-diagonal) panel where the smokejack sits, the overhanging roof of the C-40-6s and C-40-7s does have that flat panel.