Atlas Model Railroad Co. Product Review

ATLAS EXTENDED VISION CABOOSE FOR N-SCALE

The caboose has always been an indigenous part of the American rails. Acting as both rolling office and crew quarters, the caboose underwent some evolutionary changes during its career with the railroads.

The "cupola" caboose is probably the most familiar. The cupola is a raised rood section that was used for observation of the train being pulled ahead of it. This, along with walkways on both ends, set the Caboose apart from any other type of rail car. As locomotive power increased, so did the length of trains. To make observation easier, the size of the cupola increased as well. This led to the Wide, or Extended Vision, and Bay Window cabooses.

The Atlas, N scale, extended vision caboose is based on an International built Reading caboose of the early 1970s. It is available for Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Chicago, Burlington & Quincey (CB & Q), Chessie System, Conrail, Cotton Belt, Deleware & Hudson, and undecorated (Rapido only). Two road numbers are available per road name, with one number having factory installed Micro-Trains couplers, and the other having body mount Rapido couplers that will accept Micro-Trains #1111. Atlas reports that the road names of Rio Grande, Maine Central, Northern Pacific, Reading, and Soo Line, should be shipping by mid January, 1997.

The two samples sent for review were decorated for ATSF (#30201), and Cotton Belt (#30251). Both were Rapido equipped.

The cabooses feature window glazing. Although they are thick and produce a fish eye effect, they are a nice touch, especially for N scale. The caboose features a metal patterned roof with fine rivet detail. End rails are also nicely done and include molded chain detail and added on brake wheels. The caboose also includes an open smoke stack, and separate cylinder, triple valve, and reservoir.

Paint on both samples was free of blemishes, and printing was crisp and opaque. The ATSF caboose was painted bright red, with Santa Fe herald in yellow. Other lettering was done in white. The caboose for Cotton Belt was painted in dark Tuscan oxide with white lettering. Ends on the Cotton Belt caboose were painted Daylight orange. "Cotton Belt" on one side of the sample received was slightly tilted, as was the lettering on one step.

Both models feature black trucks, and roll nicely on their brown plastic wheel sets. Two extra coupler pocket covers were included with each caboose. One truck pin fit loosely on the Cotton Belt, causing the truck to fall off the caboose when handled. A small drop of super glue in the bottom of the pin hole solved the problem. The models are hefty for small N scale, weighing almost 3/4 of an ounce. A comparable sized Micro-Trains car weighs 1/2 ounce.

The caboose will always be a favorite subject among model railroaders. The Atlas Extended Vision caboose is another example of their continuing efforts to provided N scale with good quality, ready to run rolling stock.