Tangent HO Despatch Shops Inc N7 Class Steel Bay Window Caboose Penn Central “Lot 782, Green Repaint 1975+” w/ Lights

Description

Railroad Short Name: PC

Tangent Scale Model’s second caboose model is actually a system of cabooses from two builders: the HO scale Despatch Shops Incorporated (DSI) and St. Louis Car Company (SLCC) Bay Window Caboose System, which began as New York Central’s first foray into post-war steel cabooses. You know the cabooses – these are the super common cabooses that had riveted sides and offset bay windows – they were everywhere! They are most commonly referred to as Class N7 and N7As (in PC and Conrail terms) and were the largest bay window fleet in the PC and Conrail family! Yup, we have done a NYC caboose (also Illinois Terminal – keep reading)!

The DSI/SLCC Steel Bay Window cabooses were witnesses to incredible changes to railroading during their use. Perhaps your train features a NYC Schenectady-built Mohawk racing along the Water Level Route, an ITC Class C electric rocking-and-rolling through central Illinois, PC/CR SD45s on Horseshoe Curve helper duty, Detroit Edison coal trains, or ALS SW1500s delivering a cut of RBLs to a St. Louis brewery?

The Tangent Scale Models DSI/SLCC Steel Bay Window Cabooses are state of the art, dimensionally-accurate scale replicas with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. Our cabooses were designed from actual blueprints plus meticulous field dimensions, and includes incredible levels of detail such as riveted body panels and underframe and brake system, plus beautiful etch steps and multiple era-specific end platform railing options. Inside each model are accurate, railroad- and era-specific interior layouts with bunks, seats, lockers and stoves. We offer “no fuss” track-powered interior lights and end marker lights as appropriate for the prototype, that are compatible with DC or DCC setups right out of the box. (A wand is included in the box to activate the lights.) Finally, our ready-to-operate replica includes “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail, coupler lift bars accompanying Kadee® scale couplers, sufficient hidden weights, and CNC-machined wheels to ensure the model operates as good as it looks.

Inside the models we offer are several completely different interior designs, correct for the specific railroad and era. We have included accurately-painted interiors including the closets, sink, toilet closet, stove, bunks, desks, and chairs. Luckily these cabooses do not have any screens in the way, so you can “see” the hard work and effort applied to bring you a correct interior! Here is an example of the Illinois Terminal delivery configuration with the body shell removed; note the coal stove and signature ITC double bunks. We do not recommend removing the shell and it will void the warranty for the caboose due to the complexity of the marker lighting system.

And here is a modified interior version of the NYC cabooses from the early 1960s Beech Grove refurbishment cycle. These cabooses received an oil heater but kept those stylish tufted cushions on the bunks!

All of our cabooses include “warm” LED interior lighting. The NYC and ITC era oil lantern parts and tiny silver pyle lanterns on the corner posts (if equipped) are unlit. The red end marker lights and red (or orange) FRA flashers for the PC, CR and late ITC cabooses are lit. Instructions are included in each box that explain how to operate our lights. As an aside, Delivery brown NYC, B&A and the ITC schemes also come with a “baggy” of steel paddle “flags” for modelers to apply if desired.

Starting in the 1970s, PC began to remove the NYC-applied Pyle lanterns that were mounted on the end posts. Instead, PC applied two red marker lights in the top corners of the caboose ends. Conrail maintained this lighting configuration until approximately 1979. Here is an end view showing the PC and early Conrail version of our marker light configurations which are constantly lit red like the prototype.

In approximately 1979, Conrail began to changeover to a single flashing orange FRA light on the right side upper corner of the caboose ends. Here is a photo of that light.

In the late 1970s, Illinois Terminal added the round red FRA light (i.e. a flashing red light) that people remember fondly from what became the last gasp of the caboose era in US railroading. Here is an end view showing the Illinois Terminal mounted red FRA flasher.

We offer “no fuss” track-powered exterior marker lights as appropriate for the prototype, and our cabooses are compatible with DC or DCC setups right out of the box (a simple wand included in the box activates the lights on each end [if equipped] – and the interior – independently). Finally, our ready-to-operate replica includes “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail, coupler lift bars accompanying Kadee® scale couplers, sufficient hidden weights, and CNC-machined wheels to ensure the model operates as good as it looks.

Penn Central (PC) “N7 Green Repaint 1975+” represents the most common scheme applied by Penn Central to the N7 class of DSI cabooses.  Wearing the classic PC green colors that Tangent replicates better than anyone in the industry, these cabooses feature the large road numbers on the left side of the car and the italicized PENN CENTRAL above the cupola. The roof is black per PC practice, who also removed the running board and end ladders at the time of painting. Check out that classic PC replacement smokejack.  Don’t forget the bright yellow safety steps!  The fully-painted interior features black seats and stove, and light green cabinets and walls which was the selected interior color. The interior is lit, as are the tiny pairs of red marker lights on each end that PC applied to these cabooses. Eagle-eyed modelers will notice the “POOL” denotation on the end doors of this caboose to denote their pool service status (i.e. they ran everywhere). Finally we round these cars out with the application of ACI labels, which was a standard PC practice for these cabooses.

Features for these replicas include:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from actual blueprints and meticulous field dimensions using real tape measures
• Highly correct “true to life” colors
• “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
• Genuine Kadee® scale couplers
• “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
• Multiple road numbers for each scheme, as appropriate
• Era-specific body details for each RTR scheme, including multiple body roof and end window combinations
• Wood, Apex “See through,” or no roof running boards/etch metal running board supports, as appropriate for the era
• Railroad and era-specific ladder roof hand holds: Round, square, and none
• Multiple roof equipment options including locker vents, radio antenna and toilet vent
• End steps to match the prototype: Kass, Diamond, or “See through” Apex
• Two different end walkways platforms – Diamond and Kass – based on the prototype
• Unapologetically fine etch metal end window screens, where appropriate
• Thirteen (yes, 13!) different end railing/safety appliances options, based on railroad and era
• Seven different smokejacks to cover DSI, SLCC, PC and other replacement options
• Unlit NYC/ITC oil lantern and NYC pyle light options on the corner handrail posts where appropriate
• Illuminated scale-sized PC and CR era end marker lights that can be controlled on or off – on each end – independently, where appropriate
• Illuminated scale-sized CR and ITC late-era FRA end lights with a proper slow flash/prototype “decay” that can be controlled on or off – on each end – independently, where appropriate
• Multiple side oil fill and overflow pipe options based on the prototype and era
• Two “coupler lift bar” options per prototype application and era
• Railroad specific battery/equipment box options
• 4 different toilet pipe options based on the prototype and era
• Windshield wipers applied to bay windows based on era and prototype use
• Full railroad-specific interior – chairs, bunks, desks, lockers, sink and even 2 stove options! The interior is accurately apportioned and fully-painted with railroad and era-specific detailing. From the signature ITC double bunks to the NYC fold-down table and tufted cushions.
• Full underbody details – brake system with brake rods and piping, battery box, electrical plugs and conduit, water fills, axle generator and more – all based on the prototype and era!
• Beautiful side details – wire grab irons, wire ladder rungs, wire roof hand holds, and wire coupler lift bars – no “molded in” plastic grab irons here!
• Separate air hoses with mounting bracket detail
• No complicated decoder. No complicated programming. No complicated electronics. DC/DCC compatible track-powered “no fuss” interior and marker light lighting – simple and easy to operate with included wand
• “Warm” color LED lights for that “incandescent bulb” look of the prototype
• CNC-machined standard RP25 .110” tread 33” wheels (Yes, semi-scale .088” wheels are available separately!)
• All-New precision Tangent Scale Models 70-ton Gould plain-bearing trucks with separate brake beam part, or Barber 70-Ton Gould roller-bearing trucks with separate brake beam parts, as appropriate for each paint scheme
• Recommended age 14 years and older