Rapido Trains 144115 HO Scale Northeastern Style Caboose (Porthole Windows) Rock Island RI 17604

The popular Northeastern Caboose was originally designed by the Reading Company in the early 1920s. This all-steel caboose was based on a proposed design by the USRA, which actually specified wood sheathing. The Reading built 285 cars, spread through several classes. The earliest cars had solid underframes while later cars were equipped with Duryea cushion underframes.

This design was so successful that other roads took note such as; the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburg & West Virginia and the Western Maryland. Production was spread out between the Reading and the purchasing roads, which meant variations were bound to be made to the original design. Different groups of cars were equipped with different trucks, running boards, steps, grabs and end wall windows (or lack thereof).

Many of these cabooses were used well into Conrail and Chessie eras, being used in regular service until the end of mandatory caboose operations. Some would continue in local service while many were sold second-hand to other railroads – Class Is and shortlines alike! Others are enjoying their retirements on tourists roads, museums or even as part of hotels!

FEATURES:

• Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
• Operating interior lights
• MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC lighting
• Solid Underframe Features:
• Based on Lehigh Valley design, sold to numerous second-hand users
• Porthole end windows
• LV sides with rain gutters above windows
• Etched metal Apex running boards
• Three-tread steps
• Etched window frames and screens where appropriate!
• Andrews or Birdsboro trucks
• Duryea Underframe features:
• Two different cupola roofs
• Two-tread or three-tread steps
• Full Duryea Cushion underframe details
• Two running boards: Integral diamond-tread and Alan Wood
• Multiple optional parts including stacks, window blanks, etched window frames and screens, tool boxes and more!
• Three different sides standard, CNJ or LV with rain gutters above windows
• Three different end walls Solid (RDG, CNJ) and single window (LV)
• Three styles of truck: Andrews, Birdsboro and Taylor

NOTE: Road number may vary from picture shown.