Tangent Scale Models 60115-01 NYC Despatch Shops Bay Window Caboose Alton & Southern ALS 16

n 2007, Tangent Scale Models started the trend of offering unparalleled railroad freight car replicas in HO scale, the likes of which had never been seen in the market. These highly-detailed replicas have consistently raised the bar for HO scale models with several hallmarks, including precision tooling, hyper-accurate stenciling, true to life colors, and era-specific details. Additionally, our models are designed to operate perfectly by including CNC-machined wheels, correct weights, and correct coupler heights. Simply put: We offer detailed freight cars on a higher level.

Fast forward to today’s release: our second “Tangent quality” HO scale caboose offering. The era of “one size fits all” cabooses in HO scale plastic is over. We bring our passion and knowledge for translating real 1:1 railroad equipment from freight cars to cabooses. And we are taking things a step further, where our penchant for operations is accelerated with accurate marker lighting in era-specific versions!

Our 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? Well, we have a caboose for your train!

Alton & Southern (ALS) “Red Repaint 1981+” is a great example of an accidental second-hand caboose acquisition. (Literally!) The Alton & Southern Railway is a small switching railroad in the St. Louis area. The ALS wrecked a former NYC St. Louis Car-built N7A caboose, acquired it from PC, fixed it, and eventually gave it a wonderful coat of red paint. The caboose went on to be used in East St. Louis, IL area terminal operations and ALS transfers. The model features interior lighting only, as the ALS removed the PC-era end red markers as part of the rebuilding. Roller bearing caboose trucks are present, matching the prototype. This caboose is all about the little paint and stencil details — white reflective step stripes, SAFETY FIRST stencils in the step wells, and the subtle patch-out where ALS has renumbered the caboose from the earlier 5-digit series to the later 2-digit numbers. We are pleased to offer this caboose in one stunning prototypical number.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Product: St. Louis Car Co. NYC Lot 827 – N7A Class Steel Bay Window Caboose
• Scale: HO Scale 1:87.1
• Truck: Tangent Barber 70-Ton Gould roller-bearing trucks with separate brake beam parts
• Wheels: CNC-machined standard RP25 .110” tread 33” wheels
• DC/DCC Lighting Features: Interior Lights