The HO Scale Northeastern Caboose is back with a new variation and more exciting schemes! This time around we have tooled the popular Lehigh Valley "solid frame" version with the unique porthole end windows in a variety of roadnames. But that's not all! To help celebrate America's Semiquincentennial, we're also offering the iconic LV Bicentennial 1776.
Our first release of Northeastern Cabooses allowed you to upgrade the ancient models on your layout. But everyone asked us for the porthole window version. Well now you can finally get these unique cabooses with the full Rapido detail treatment and correct underframe!
The popular Northeastern Caboose was originally designed by the Reading Company in the early 1920s. 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 copied them, such as the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburg & West Virginia and the Western Maryland.
Here are some initial run photos, highlighting all of the intense details offered on these cabeese.
Details everywhere! Tons of variations and lots of details visible, even from far away.
The underframe, full of piping and rods. And how could we forget the amazing interior details!
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 secondhand to other railroads — Class 1s and shortlines alike! In fact, on this run we are offering the Reading & Northern's 92844, which is still in use today.
Here are the HO Scale Northeastern Caboose features:
NEW! 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, toolboxes 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
All models feature semi-scale metal knuckle couplers, operating interior lights and MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC lighting.
