International Car Company (ICC) Wide Vision Cabooses

Burlington Northern (BN) “Delivery 9-1970” with Red-Green Lights represents an important group of cabooses: the first new cabooses delivered to the Burlington Northern. This Tangent model accurately depicts the first 25 cabooses delivered in September of 1970. Painted Cascade Green with yellow ends, these cabooses wear the first look of the then-new BN corporate image. Check out those neat vertical railings running from the roof eave down to the end corners: Half green, half yellow, just like the real ones. This is another new body for this Tangent system. The center raised-sash body windows of NP and SP&S specifications are gone, replaced by rounded-corner countersunk sealed windows. BN changed the end railing style along with the underframe details and orientation. The Spicer axle-driven generator is still there, but the caboose features have been modernized to include a toilet retention tank and flush system. The smokejack and bracing has changed on the roof from the NP and SP&S orders. The running boards and end walkways are an accurate Apex design. Inside is an accurate BN interior as delivered by ICC. The ends feature BN’s signature Red-Green lighting and Tangent-standard interior lights. Extra parts are included to model the daytime metal flag paddles/holders for the corner posts and cupola wind deflectors. Tangent Scale Models are committed to accurate BN modeling.

Northern Pacific (NP) “Delivery 1969” with Pyle Lanterns replicates the as-built pre-merger paint scheme. The NP took delivery of their 25 wide-vision cabooses from International Car Corp. in May and June of 1969. Painted Cascade Green with yellow ends, it’s fitting to just say “WOW” when describing this final NP scheme. The paint details make this caboose stand out. Notice the carefully masked “unpainted” galvanized roof, black and yellow end railing details and red/white striped ends. The prototype NP cabooses were delivered with Morton running boards and end walkways, a detail Tangent Scale Models have carefully duplicated on these models, even down to the distinctive Morton “Uni-wing” flange on the running board edges. Underneath, these models are fitted with a Waugh cushion underframe, Dana Corporation Spicer axle-drive generator, propane tank storage box and toilet dump pipe. It’s all there, from the electrical plugs/conduit and Vapor heater breather blocks down to the water fills and fine air release rod. The body of the caboose has an accurate NP side and end window layout with Tangent-fine side screens to match the prototype. Inside?  Yes, this replica has a full interior, and the lockers are accurately painted in a 2-tone green with swooping, curved color separations, just like the classy NP prototypes! The NP specified a 2-level bunk on the A-End, and the Tangent models include that detail plus the sink/cabinet and refrigerator. For lighting, the NP model is equipped with prototypically-dim Pyle lanterns and “golden” interior lights, mimicking the incandescent bulbs of the real cabooses. Yes, you are going to have to turn off the train room lights to see them! Extra parts are included to model the original end screen doors (quickly removed by NP), BN era metal flag paddles, and cupola wind deflectors.

Spokane Portland & Seattle (SP&S) “Delivery 1969” with Red Cupola Lights offers up the final SP&S caboose order. Delivered in July of 1969 from ICC, these six prototypes wore classic SP&S red paint. The prototypes have unpainted galvanized roofs, with red overspray. Tangent has carefully duplicated all of these colors including the red overspray on their model. The yellow handrails, grab irons and top ladder handholds really stand out against the red body color. These SP&S cabooses were delivered with Morton running boards and end walkways, and Tangent Scale Models have done the same on the models. The SP&S lettering has been carefully replicated on the caboose, including “The Northwest’s Own Railway” script. All of the as-delivered data is present, from the ACI label down to the underframe ICC builder stencil. Underneath, these models are fitted with a Waugh cushion underframe, Spicer axle-drive generator, battery storage box and toilet dump pipe. At first glance, you may think that Tangent Scale Models just painted the Tangent NP caboose in SP&S red. But you know the SP&S deserves better. If you look closely, you will notice all of the changes — Yes, Tangent Scale Models tooled up an SP&S-specific body and cupola. And that includes little things like the SP&S-specific shorter smokejack, underframe battery box and alternate electrical conduit/plug location. This replica has a fully outfitted and painted interior, from the Vapor “Caban” Heater and lockers to the high-back chairs and bunks. For lighting, this Tangent SP&S model is equipped with prototypical round, red lights on the cupola ends and “golden” interior lights, mimicking the incandescent bulbs of the real cabooses. Extra parts are included to model the original end screen doors (quickly removed by SP&S), BN era metal flag paddles, and cupola wind deflectors.