{"product_id":"preorder-rapido-ho-144107-northeastern-style-caboose-with-porthole-windows-lehigh-valley-95046-98-96","title":"PREORDER Rapido HO 144107 Northeastern-Style Caboose with Porthole Windows, Lehigh Valley #95046","description":"The popular Northeastern Caboose was originally designed by the Reading Company in the early 1920s. This all-steel caboose was based on a proposed design by the USRA, which actually specified wood sheathing. The Reading built 285 cars, spread through several classes. The earliest cars had solid underframes while later cars were equipped with Duryea cushion underframes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis design was so successful that other roads took note such as; the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh \u0026amp; New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburg \u0026amp; West Virginia and the Western Maryland. Production was spread out between the Reading and the purchasing roads, which meant variations were bound to be made to the original design. Different groups of cars were equipped with different trucks, running boards, steps, grabs and end wall windows (or lack thereof).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany of these cabooses were used well into Conrail and Chessie eras, being used in regular service until the end of mandatory caboose operations. Some would continue in local service while many were sold second-hand to other railroads - Class Is and shortlines alike! Others are enjoying their retirements on tourists roads, museums or even as part of hotels!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNEW! Solid Underframe Features:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBased on Lehigh Valley design, sold to numerous second-hand users\u003cbr\u003ePorthole end windows\u003cbr\u003eLV sides with rain gutters above windows\u003cbr\u003eEtched metal Apex running boards\u003cbr\u003eThree-tread steps\u003cbr\u003eEtched window frames and screens where appropriate!\u003cbr\u003eAndrews or Birdsboro trucks \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll models feature semi-scale metal knuckle couplers, operating interior lights and MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC lighting.","brand":"Rapido","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42182737428562,"sku":"RPI-144107-PRE","price":10.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0581\/3410\/2098\/files\/lv_red.jpg?v=1760714323","url":"https:\/\/modeltrainstuff.com\/products\/preorder-rapido-ho-144107-northeastern-style-caboose-with-porthole-windows-lehigh-valley-95046-98-96","provider":"Model Train Stuff","version":"1.0","type":"link"}