The Northern Pacific Railway first rostered these short, offset cupola wood cabooses beginning in 1907-1908 with the delivery of 100 cars built in its own shops; additional batches would follow in 1909 and 1912-1913. These 24’ crummies would later be known as the 1200 series cars. In 1921, the Pacific Car & Foundry constructed 90 similar wood cabooses for the NP, the 1700 series, with a number of these cars being direct copies of the older series. By late 1946, all the wood cabooses, now exhibiting steel center sills, were being rebuilt to a common floor plan as they were shopped and received major renovations including: straight cupola sides, new end railing, three-step end platforms, and AB type brake gear. This final revision of the 1200 series would see the class through to the end of the 1960s with a number of cars surviving into the Burlington Northern era.

Our N scale kit represents the 1200 series (and a few 1700 series) cabooses as they appeared after all the various rebuilds. Optional details include both wide and narrow ladder landing arrangements. Kit No. 553 features: 100% laser-cut components with custom laser-scribed Birch plywood side, end walls, and cupola; Tab & Slot carbody construction; Peel & Stick window, door, and trim assembly; laser-cut underframe, end platforms, ladders, end railing, hand grabs, window glazing, and brake wheels; cast resin platform steps and brake gear; plastic smokejack; and fully illustrated instructions that provide information on painting and decaling the assembled model. We recommend the purchase of Micro-Trains No.1015-1 Universal Body Mount Couplers, Atlas No. 22061 Friction Bearing Caboose Trucks, Microscale decal sheet No. 60-184, and paint and glue of your choice for the completion of this kit.

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