Description
CA-11 CABOOSE FEATURES:
- Better than brass detail™ including roadname and road number specific detail and laser-sharp painting and printing
- Fully detailed interior including conductor’s desk, stove, sink, bath- room, radio stand, and more
- Lighting functions in DCC with brightness control
- Lit walkway lights; an Athearn Genesis ICC Caboose first
- See-through end platforms and steps
- Etched metal window screens on door and some side windows
- Flush window glazing
- Wire-form grab irons
- Caboose trucks with rotating roller bearing caps
- Axle generator details
- Body-mounted McHenry® scale knuckle-spring Couplers
- Multiple road numbers
- Separate wireform grab irons, etched metal coupler platforms
- Coupler lift bars, trainline hoses, brake hoses, and hardware
- Full underframe detail: air brake reservoir, control valve, and brake cylinder with plumbing and brake rod details
- Machined metal wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
- Weighted for trouble-free operation
- Fully-assembled and ready-to-run out of the box
- Accurately painted and printed for prototypical realism
- Highly-detailed, injection-molded body
- Window packaging for easy viewing, plus interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
- Minimum radius: 18”
LED LIGHT-EQUIPPED FEATURES:
- On-board DCC Decoder by NCE – Operates in DCC and Analog (DC) with lighting functions controllable in DCC
- Various classes will feature single or dual roof markers, or end-mount marker lights, per prototype and/or era (not all cars have marker lights)
- LED lighting for long life and reliable operation
- LED interior and marker lights with brightness control
- All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:
- Air horn or trainline air whistle as appropriate
- Clickety-clack with optional wheel flat spot sounds
- Brake set/release sounds including retainers and brake squeal
- ”Big Hole” emergency brake application sound
- Handbrake tie-down/release
- Adjustable flange squeal
- Air horn, and bell sounds work seamlessly with Soundtraxx locomotive sound decoders
- Supports advanced consisting in DCC
- Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
- All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
UP SNOWBUS FEATURES:
- Unique body style with enclosed end porches
- Features insulated,-non-opening windows
- MU pedestal and rubber Signal hoses unique to these cars
- Additional center-mounted porch light
- #25809 - Original straight steps
- #25872 - Modified steps
UP MODIFIED FEATURES:
- Modified ‘boxed’ porch supports
- Additional door-side grab irons
- Lowered and extended steps
- Shielded walkway lights
- Side-mounted tack boards
- Two window screen options included
UP MADERA FLYER FEATURES:
- Lit high-mounted head-lights
- Roof-mounted Nathan K3 air horn
- Roof-Mounted brass bell
- Additional CA-11a prototype features
UP AS DELIVERED FEATURES:
- L-angle porch supports
- Straight steps
- Unshielded walkway lights
- Two window screens options included
OWTX FEATURES:
- CA-11 prototype features
- Center-mounted red marker light
INPR FEATURES:
- Ex-UP
- CA-11a modified features
PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:
As more trains exceeded Plate C dimensions with taller and taller cars, the caboose cupola became ineffective for watching over a train. By borrowing another railroads caboose, Union Pacific found that bay-windows provided better train visibility, were safer, and more comfortable to ride in than a cupola. They placed an order for 100 cabooses with International Car Company for a new class of caboose being delivered in 1979. Large protected end porches, 70-ton National Swing Motion trucks, elevated toolboxes, oil-fired heat, and hydraulic coupler cushioning were some of the new features that made these crew favorites.
A single CA-12 prototype was created with comfort and safety improvements. However the order was cancelled as UP inherited recently-built Rock Island cabooses (CA-13). UP modified the CA-11 fleet with many of these features creating a sub-class of the CA-11. Additional unique modifications were made to these iconic cabooses as they were no longer needed for regular train service, several of which Athearn has created detailed version.
