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Aug 30, 2007 - HO Scale

Walthers New PRR & MILW Cabooses

Walthers Announces Two New Platinum Line(TM) Cabooses 

New Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Ribbed Side Caboose

milw caboose

 In the mid-1930s, new and bigger freight cars created visibility problems for crews in caboose cupolas. Starting in 1937, the Milwaukee rebuilt some older wooden cabooses, removing the rooftop cupola and installing new side-mounted bay windows. This experiment proved successful, reducing injuries, improving visibility and putting crews where they could spot problems quickly. By this time, the ever resourceful and cost-conscious Milwaukee also had welded-steel passenger and freight cars with ribbed sides (ribs improved strength while reducing overall weight) in regular service. In 1939, these ideas were combined to create an all-new welded steel bay window caboose with ribbed sides. Two additional ideas were borrowed from the passenger department; trucks were a design first used on some 56' combines built in 1934, and the cars wore the road's signature orange, maroon and black paint. There were some innovative new ideas too, including a side-mounted toolbox that made it easier to retrieve repair parts. Construction began in the Milwaukee's shops in July, with the first car ready for service by mid-August, and 75 completed by year's end. With minor changes, modernizations and improvements, the Milwaukee would build nearly 300 of these cars through 1951. Serving all over the system in a variety of roles, many of the rugged little cabooses outlived the Milwaukee Road itself. After the 1985 merger with the Soo Line, many survivors were sold, and several have been preserved. Your model represents a 1939-built car, refitted with a small smokejack for the kerosene lamp above the conductor's desk.

New Platinum Line(TM) Pennsy N6B Wood Caboose

pennsy wood caboose

 In 1913, Ohio, and subsequently several other states, passed laws mandating larger and safer cabooses. At that time, nearly all the cabin cars (the PRR term for caboose) on the Pennsylvania Railroad were small four-wheel cars, and most had wooden underframes. Although the Pennsylvania had designed and was building a sample all-steel car by 1914, the decision was made to modernize the existing cars on Lines West. Rebuilding included lengthening one end of each car resulting in an off-center cupola. Some N6B cabins received centered cupolas of a different design. Two existing Lines West styles of cupolas were also reused, creating class N6A with the wide style and N6B with the narrow type. New steel underframes with two four-wheel trucks were applied to the cars. Between 1914 and 1923, nearly 1,200 cars were created in the two classes. Most were rebuilds, as described above, but some were built new. The N6A and N6B cars were the most numerous design of cabin car on the PRR from the early 1920s through the late 50s, although N6A cars had been converted to N6B by that time. The N6B class remained in service in large numbers into the early 60s, with a few surviving into the Penn Central era in 1968, mainly as work equipment. A handful escaped scrapping and survive in various museum and private collections today.

 

Product Details

Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania N6B Wood Cabin Car (PRR) Caboose #980527, #982208 (Assembled 2-Pack -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Roman Lettering w/ Bar) - Expected Release Date: 2009-01-01
932-27651
$94.98
Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania (PRR) N6B Wood Cabin Car Caboose #980780, #980238 (Assembled 2-Pack -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Roman Lettering)(Keystone at Top) - Expected Release Date: 2009-01-01
932-27652
$94.98
Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania (PRR) N6B Wood Cabin Car Caboose #981736, #981530 (Assembled 2-Pack -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Roman Lettering)(Keystone in Middle) - Expected Release Date: 2008-02-01
932-27653
$94.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Limited-Run 2-Pack Assembled -- Milwaukee Road Full Name - Expected Release Date: 2007-12-01
932-27661
$74.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Limited-Run 2-Pack Assembled -- Milwaukee Road w/Herald - Expected Release Date: 2007-12-01
932-27662
$74.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Limited-Run 2-Pack Assembled -- Milwaukee Road 1970s Scheme - Expected Release Date: 2008-01-01
932-27663
$74.98
Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania N6B Wood Cabin Car Caboose #981693 (Ready to Run -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Roman Lettering & Bar) - Expected Release Date: 2009-01-01
932-7651
$49.98
Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania (PRR) N6B Wood Cabin Car Caboose) #981801 (Ready to Run -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Keystone at Top) - Expected Release Date: 2009-01-01
932-7652
$49.98
Walthers - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Pennsylvania (PRR) N6B Wood Cabin Car Caboose #980883 (Ready to Run -- Pennsylvania w/Centered Cupola)(Keystone in Middle) - Expected Release Date: 2009-01-01
932-7653
$49.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Ready To Run -- Milwaukee Road Full Name - Expected Release Date: 2008-01-01
932-7661
$44.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Ready To Run -- Milwaukee Road w/Herald - Expected Release Date: 2008-01-01
932-7662
$44.98
Wal - HO Scale - Platinum Line(TM) Milwaukee Road Rib Side Caboose Ready To Run -- Milwaukee Road 1970s Scheme - Expected Release Date: 2008-01-01
932-7663
$44.98

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