Our third caboose model is the HO Scale IC Centralia Shops Wide Vision Caboose. These IC cabooses are one of the most recognizable body styles in North America. You know these cabooses – with those long, extended end walkways, wide vision cupolas, and bright orange paint. This caboose was utilized system-wide on the IC, ICG, the “New” IC and yes, even on today’s CN. At its peak, the ICG served 14 states, including major interchange terminals from Chicago, IL, East St. Louis, IL, and Kansas City, MO to Louisville, KY, Memphis, TN and Birmingham, AL. These cabooses certainly got around!

Perhaps your trains model the famous IC “Main Line of Mid-America” North-South racetrack. Or maybe you model the final days of the IC-UP run-through freights between North Platte, NE and Chicago, IL. For others, coal is king in Southern Illinois and Kentucky. Perhaps pulpwood traffic is your jam in Vicksburg, MS. Or maybe you just need to protect your crews with a shoving platform in Mattoon, IL on today’s CN. Tangent has the right caboose for your train!

 

Canadian National (CN) “Red Repaint 2005+” gives the modern era modelers some love.  A handful of the IC Centralia Wide Vision Cabooses have continued to serve the CN into the 2000s and beyond.  IC 199408 was repainted from its IC Gray scheme into CN’s Oxide Red colors in 2005 at Centralia.  At this time, it also received the yellow reflective delineators.  This model features plated fixed side windows, plated end markers, replacement style coupler lift bars, modernized end cupola windows, and a “cut off” smokejack, all based on the prototype caboose.  It is illuminated with LED “warm” lights to replicate incandescent bulbs, as well as FRA flashing red end lights.  This caboose serves faithfully on the CN today around Champaign, IL and Mattoon, IL.  It’s hard to believe, but this caboose will soon wear CN paint longer than any previous IC gray or IC(G) orange scheme!  This caboose is accurate for 2005 through to today

 

Canadian National (CN) “Red Repaint 2007+” gives another modern era example for today’s CN modelers.  A handful of the IC Centralia Wide Vision Cabooses have continued to serve the CN into the 2000s and beyond.  ICG 199576 was repainted from its ICG orange scheme into CN’s Oxide Red colors and yellow reflective delineators in 2007 at Centralia.  This is one of the “Stanray” roof IC cars from the 1970 lot.  The model features intact side body windows, as this example has survived the entire modern era without getting the window plating treatment.   The end marker boxes have been completely removed on this specific caboose, and we have duplicated this on the model.  It also features replacement style coupler lift bars painted blue, modernized end cupola windows, and a “cut off” smokejack, all based on the prototype.  It is illuminated with LED “warm” lights to replicate incandescent bulbs, as well as FRA flashing red end lights.  This caboose still serves faithfully on the CN – it was last noted around Baton Rouge, LA in 2022!  This is an example of modern 2007-2022 accuracy.

 

Chicago Missouri & Western (CM&W) “Red Repaint 1988+” is the first offering in this release aimed at a second-hand operator of IC Centralia Wide Vision Cabooses.  The CM&W Railway purchased the ICG’s ex-GM&O mainlines between East St. Louis, IL, Joliet, IL and Kansas City, MO in 1987.  Its first paint scheme was an Alton R.R.-inspired red and maroon.  The CM&W rostered a dozen of the ex-IC/ICG Centralia cabooses, but only one would receive this stunning paint application.  The Tangent replica is decorated with an intricate and accurate CM&W logo along with classy yellow handrail highlights.  This is a former IC 1970 lot caboose, so it is equipped with a Stanray roof, just like the prototype.  The model features an accurate Keystone-equipped cushion underframe with Battery Box and toilet pipe modifications made by the IC.  The model also features correct “plated” windows and “blanked” end marker light boxes, plus additional modern changes like replacement style coupler lift bars and a “cut off” smokejack.  If you look closely at the cupola end windows, you will notice that they are a “modified” style from its days on the ICG.  Yes, we tooled multiple cupolas to handle window changes across the eras.  This model is equipped with interior lights and a red FRA light on each end, flashing with that carefully researched slow decay of the prototype.  Watching a caboose’s flashing red light disappear in the distance is a classic railfan experience — getting that red flash rate correct is important to us!

 

Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) “Orange I-Ball Repaint 1974+” represents a common repaint scheme applied by the now Illinois Central Gulf’s Centralia Shops.  The GM&O and IC merged in August of 1972, and cabooses were painted with a new version of the logo:  The IC’s “split rail” was filled in to form the ICG’s “solid I.”  The ICG didn’t bother to mask off the aluminum window frames, so they are now orange with the rest of the carbody.  These accurate repaint car numbers are carefully selected from the 1972-built group of cabooses.  That means they feature a Pullman “bow-tie” panel roof.  But there is more to it that that – along with PS panels, the roof features a completely different construction layout, and Apex walkway than the earlier Stanray-equipped series.  The underframe details also match the 1972 Centralia lot, including accurate brake components layout and the classic IC-style battery box.  This group of cabooses was built with Microphor chemical toilets, so there is no visible dump pipe on the underframe.  Take a minute to enjoy the finer details of this model, including Timken style roller bearings and flexible rubber air hoses.  The fully-painted interior is illuminated with LED “warm” lights to replicate incandescent bulbs, and the ends feature accurate, lighted IC(G) box-style red-green markers for the era.

 

Features for these replicas include:

– Dimensional accuracy – designed from meticulous field dimensions using real tape measures and multiple real IC Centralia Cabooses.

– Highly correct “true to life” colors

– “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement

– Genuine Kadee scale couplers

– “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail

– Multiple road numbers for each scheme, as appropriate

– Era-specific body details for each RTR scheme, including multiple body, side vents and side window combinations

– Three different era-specific and road number specific wide vision cupola options

– Two different roof options – “Stanray” or “Pullman Standard”

– Two different Apex “See through” running boards

– Accurate Keystone Center-of-Car cushioning unit

– Railroad and era-specific underframe details to match as-built and IC(G) modified configurations

– Multiple cupola roof options for different radio antennas and chemical toilet vent

– End steps and walkways that carefully replicate the prototype “Junior JAL-Tread” walkway pattern

– Unapologetically fine etch metal side and end window screens, where appropriate

– Five different end railing/marker light options, based on railroad and era

– Three different smokejacks to cover IC/ICG and replacement options

– Two “coupler lift bar” options per prototype application and era

– Railroad specific/era specific battery box options

– Different toilet pipe/sink drain pipe options based on the prototype and era

– Full IC-specific interior – chairs, bunks, desk, lockers, ice chest, oil bunker and the most detailed Vapor Corporation TCHA55 Caban heater in HO Scale! The interior is fully painted with railroad and era-specific colors.

– Full underbody details – brake system with brake rods and piping, release rod, snubber, water fills, axle generator and more – all based on the prototype and era!

– Beautiful side wire curved grab irons, intricate signature Centralia end railings in plastic with accurate wire top ladder hoops.

– Flexible rubber air hoses with mounting bracket detail

– Consumer applied optional metal red/green “flag” paddle parts included for appropriate eras

– Consumer applied optional cupola Prime wind deflector parts included

– LED illuminated scale-sized IC Red-Green Marker light boxes that can be controlled red/green/off – on each end – independently, where appropriate

– LED illuminated scale-sized ICG FRA end lights with a proper slow flash/prototype “decay” that can be controlled on or off – on each end – independently, where appropriate

– LED illuminated interior lighting “warm” lights to replicate incandescent bulbs that can be controlled on or off.

– No complicated decoder. No complicated programming. No complicated electronics. DC/DCC compatible track-powered “no fuss” interior and marker light lighting – simple and easy to operate with included wand

– CNC-machined standard RP25 .110” tread 33” wheels (Yes, semi-scale .088” wheels are available separately!)

– All-New precision Tangent Scale Models 70-ton Barber roller bearing trucks with separate brake beam part, or 70-Ton Gould roller bearing trucks with separate brake beam parts, as appropriate for each paint scheme

– Undecorated kits and RTR cabooses painted orange!

– Recommended age 14 years and older

 

Order Due Date: November 30, 2022

 

 

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