PROTOTYPE INFO:

Perhaps one of the most recognizable icons of American railroading, the caboose completed the train. Cabooses provided shelter for the rear end crew. From the cupola or bay windows, the crew could keep a lookout for shifting loads, damaged equipment, and overheating axles. As rail cars became larger in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there was a real need for cabooses to have greater visibility for the crew.

In the extended-vision or wide-vision caboose, the sides of the cupola project beyond the side of the car body. This model was introduced by the International Car Company and saw service on most U.S. railroads. The expanded cupola allowed the crew to see past the top of the taller cars that began to appear after World War II, and also increased the roominess of the cupola area.

ICC CABOOSE FEATURES:

• Better than brass detail including roadname and road number specific detail and laser-sharp painting and printing
• Interior seating for the addition of crew figures
• Lighting functions in DCC with brightness control (no magnetic wands to keep track of or lose)
• 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:

• LED lighting for long life and reliable operation
• DCC decoder-equipped

– 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 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

LEGENDARY LIVERIES

What are Legendary Liveries? An Athearn exclusive, they are the ultimate answer to “What if?” Featuring some of the most popular railroad paint schemes of all time, these models are perfect for collecting, proto-freelancing, or just plain fun! Whether companyproposed paint schemes, canceled locomotive orders, or alternate takes on history, Legendary Liveries are fun and unique additions to any roster. Enjoy these items, and answer the ultimate railroad question of: “What if?”

Southern Pacific

SP FEATURES:

In an attempt to combat theft on trains, Southern Pacific painted up a number of C-50-9 Class caboose with Police badges and lettering These were used on trains along with an SP Police Car pacing the train to deter people boarding trains and stealing or damaging lading and railroad equipment. Along with the regular train crew, SP Railroad Police or Special Agents rode in the caboose to monitor the train.

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