It’s taken a while but our first Premium Instruction Kit of 2018 is ready to preorder. We will be taking orders for this kit until April 30th. Once ordering is closed, we will go into producing kits and expect to start shipping late April, early May.

You can find the Northeastern Caboose Premium Instructions, Decal Sets, Optional Lighting Kit, and extra wheel sets, in our Brick Model Railroader Store.

Northeastern Caboose without Lighting Kit

Northeastern Caboose with Lighting Kit

Yes, we’re doing this release a little differently. For the previous four kits we made up a run of 50 kits, put them on sale, and when sold out, you had to wait until the next run. Since the popularity of our kits has been so great, we’ve usually sold out in days for the first runs, and even re-runs have sold quickly. Clearly you all like what we’re doing. We really have no legitimate idea of our demand, so instead of making a limited run of kits ready to sell, we’re going to try out the pre-order formula used recently for the four freight car re-runs. However, we are working on streamlining our production process and hope to have a number of kits ready to ship as soon as pre-orders close. We’re still learning and trying to find the best way to sell our models, and make sure that every one who wants one will get the opportunity. We’re always open to feedback, so if you have questions or concerns, let us know.

North Eastern Caboose

The Northeastern caboose design was created by the Reading Company in the early 1920s as a reaction to proposed legislation requiring that cabooses operated on through freight trains in Pennsylvania be eight-wheeled and at least 24 feet long. The legislation was finally enacted in 1929, with the additional requirement that the caboose center sill be the equivalent of that on a forty-ton freight car. The design would prove to be quite popular outside of the Reading, with many other nearby railroads adopting the design for their own use. Over the years many Northeastern Cabooses changed hands and the number of railroads who owned them grew. Today, the Northeastern is one of the most popular cabooses in preservation at railroad museum and tourist railroads.

The  term “Northeastern caboose” was never used by the railroads that owned cabooses of this design. The name was bestowed by railfans and model railroaders because the majority of the railroads who used them we’re located in the Northeastern United States.

Our model of the Northeastern caboose has been careful researched and designed to stay as authentic to the real prototype as possible, and provide the best building experience to you. This is our first model to feature a fully detailed interior, and we have added the option of a lighting kit to further enhance the final model.

Optional Lighting Kit

The Northeastern Caboose is our first model to feature a fully lighted interior and exterior.  Produced by LifeLites exclusively for BMR, this lighting kit features 3 lights for the North Eastern Caboose. 1 interior light, and 2 exterior marker lights, plus control board and battery; everything needed to light up your caboose. We are offing a special deal when you buy the caboose and lighting kit together.

Prior to the 1960’s, the ‘norm’ for caboose interior lighting at night would be one lamp over the conductor’s desk. Too much light inside the caboose would interfere with visibility from the cupola and prevent the brakemen from being able to watch the train for trouble at night.

Exterior lights usually consisted of one or two marker lamps hung from the rear corners of the caboose, These would identify the rear of the train to tower operators, station agents, and other trains.

In later years railroads may have added more interior lights, but when running they would have been kept off.

This lighting kit feature three extra Nano Lite ports to add additional Nano Lite style lights if desired. Separate lights can be purchased from LifeLites.

Decals for the Northeastern Cabose

Produced for BMR by OKBrickWorks, these decals feature authentically replicated graphics for several railroads who owned Northeastern style cabooses. These decals are printed on clear vinyl, are durable, water resistant, and easy to apply. Each set comes with extra numbers so you can change the road number to your desire.

Decal sets available are:

Reading “Original Red Scheme”

The first of two paint schemes the Reading used for their Northeastern cabooses. No.90730 was the very first Northeastern caboose built.

Reading “Green and Yellow Scheme” 

The second of two paint schemes the Reading used for their Northeastern cabooses. No.94074 was the last Northeastern caboose built by the Reading.

Lehigh Valley “Route of the Black Diamond”

The Lehigh Valley began to build their Northeastern cabooses in 1939. The Lehigh’s NE Cabs wore numerous paint schemes over the years, but the “ROUTE OF THE BLACK DIAMOND” scheme was the first one they used.

 

Central New Jersey “Coast Guard” 

The Central Railroad of New Jersey, while under Reading control, completed their first “northeastern” cabooses in 1942. This paint appearing in the 1970’s became known as the “Coast Guard” scheme because of its resemblance to the markings on US Coast Guard vessels.

Western Maryland “Fast Freight”

The Western Maryland built its first “northeastern” cabooses in 1936. Built in four batches between 1936 and 1940, the WM would eventually own 105 Northeasterns, and this one caboose type would make up the entire WM fleet.

Western Maryland “Speed Letter”

The second  WM Northeastern caboose scheme, “Speed Letter”  became the WM standard look in the late 1950s.

Western Maryland “Circus Scheme”

Introduced in the 1960s, the Western Maryland’s red, white, and black Caboose scheme has earned the “Circus” nickname by rail fans, perhaps due to it’s similarity to clown makeup. The WM never officially used the name however.

Western Maryland “Chessie System”

After the C&O-B&O takeover of the Western Maryland in 1973, the Western Maryland Northeastern cabooses began to appear in the bright, Chessie System colors and to wander off-line onto B&O and C&O rails.

CONRAIL

Conrail inherited many Northeastern cabooses when it was formed from several Northeastern US railroads in 1974. Conrail classed these as N4 and N4a, and to the delight of RR historians, stenciled the original railroad initials and caboose number in the upper right hand corner.

Norfolk & Western “Red and White Hamburger”

The Norfolk and Western Railway inherited 15 Northeastern style cabooses when it merged with the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway in 1964. The N&W quickly repainted them in it’s standard red caboose paint scheme of the time. Originally numbered 825 to 839, they were renumbered to 500825 to 500839 by the N&W.

 

Norfolk & Western “Blue and Yellow Hamburger”

The Norfolk and Western Railway’s 15 Northeastern style cabooses were classed C-19. The N&W’s blue caboose paint scheme began appearing in 1966. Originally this scheme called for the roof to be painted blue, later revisions saw some cars with aluminum painted roofs.

And don’t forget we have extra wheel sets available as well.

Bearing Wheel Sets

Head on over to our Brick Model Railroader Store, where you’ll find the Northeastern Caboose Premium Instructions, Decal Sets, Optional Lighting Kit, and extra wheel sets.

Thank you for your continued support.