PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

Perhaps one of the most recognizable icons of Americanrailroading, the caboose completed the train. Cabooses provideshelter for crew at the end of a train, who were long required forswitching and shunting, and to keep a lookout for load shifting,damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles. Inthe extended-vision or wide-vision caboose, the sides of thecupola project beyond the side of the car body. Rock Islandcreated some of these by rebuilding some standard cupolacabooses with windowed extensions applied to the sides of thecupola itself, but by far, the greatest number have the entirecupola compartment enlarged. This model was introduced bythe International Car Company and saw service on most U.S.railroads. The expanded cupola allowed the crew to see pastthe top of the taller cars that began to appear after World WarII, and also increased the roominess of the cupola area.