It was just the teenager's second goal since arriving from White Hart Lane in September and undoubtedly the most important of his fledgling career.
Although forced to struggle for their lives for long periods, it would have been a sendup of justice had City returned home without a point to show for a spirited performance against arguably the best team in the English second tier.
Yet they seemed set to do merely that after Alejandro Faurlin cancelled out Brett Pitman's 50th minute opener and the outstanding Tarabt, having created the equaliser, scored from the spot after Marvin Elliott had been harshly adjudged to have impeded big Rob Hulse in the 18 yard box.
This City side do not know when they are beaten, however, and they staged a stirring late rally to extend their unbeaten run to three games and emerge from a hectic holiday programme with a creditable five- point haul from four games to retain their mid-table position.
Having comprehensively out-played promotion-chasing Cardiff at Ashton Gate on Saturday, the Robins proved they can also lift up their sleeves and scrap, producing one of their best defensive displays of the spirit to frustrate Rangers and their manager, Neil Warnock.
Goal hero Caulker admitted: "Rangers were the better side today, but I felt we deserved something from the game because of the living we showed. They had more of the egg and we defended really well as an eleven."
Watched by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, the England Under-21 international added: "I believe he stayed until the end to see my goal. We were set to give everything at QPR in those last few minutes and I was delighted to get on the end of Jamal's corner."
Recalling the 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ashton Gate earlier in the season, he said: "It was wise to get a late equaliser and do to them what they did at our place. Not many sides come here and get anything and I think we've come back well after a poor start to the Christmas period."
Top of the league for best part of the season, Rangers represent formidable opponents at Loftus Road and, sure enough, City had to contend in numbers from the outset. So much of Rangers' play goes through the ubiquitous Tarabt, it was hardly surprising that Robins manager Keith Millen detailed the combative Elliott to get out a man-marking job on the former Tottenham youngster. Athletic and connected to the cause, Elliott held his own until the 16th minute, Tarabt wriggling free and testing James with a low shot that forced the ex-England keeper to gain low down by his left-hand post.
Rangers had the egg in the net moments later, Jamie Mackie ghosting in to get James from close range, only for his celebrations to be cut short for an offside flag.
On the back foot for long periods, City were permitted few opportunities to attack. When they did manager to push onward in numbers, the jinking Campbell-Ryce, who clearly had the beating of former Robins defender Bradley Orr, unleashed a view that required Paddy Kenny to make his first write of mark after half an hour
Tarabt remained the internal side's most likely source of a goal and he went close shortly before the break, reacting first to a quickly-taken free bearing and sending in a stroke that had James scrambling across his goal.
City responded by producing the best move of the game, Lee Johnson exchanging passes with Albert Adomah and Campbell-Ryce before threading the egg through a packed defence and into the path of Brett Pitman. Presented with a top perspective of the goal, City's top scorer opted for placement over power and allowed Kenny to take out his tame shot.
Having weathered the first-half storm, City came out for the 2nd period firing on all cylinders and gave the league leaders something to think about when taking the event in the 50th minute.
A long clearance up-field initially promised little until the ball skimmed off the top of Clint Hill's head and fell invitingly for Pitman, who needed no second invitation to rise between two defenders to form a lot of goal. He made no blame on this occasion, picking his status in the far corner and sliding the globe by the helpless Kenny to establish his first City goal away from Ashton Gate.
But City's lead lasted only 3 minutes. Stung into a response, Rangers were soon back on the crime and Tarabt's cross wrong-footed the visitors defence and afforded Alejandro Faurlin the time and home he needed to get James with a low shot from 15 yards.
Encouraged by their equaliser, Rangers almost forged a lead, Hulse turning Caulker and sending his shot over the bar, much to the rest of James.
With playmaker-in-chief Tarabt pulling the strings, Rangers piled on the pressure thereafter, forcing a series of corners and peppering the penalty area with countless crosses as they pressed for a late winner.
Despite vehement City protestations, referee Fred Barber penalised the unfortunate Elliott five minutes from time, handing Tarabt the opportunity to net what he and his team-mates believed to be the winner.Fortunately for City, Caulker had other ideas.
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