Description
In the mid-1960s Canadian National Railway needed to replace its aging fleet of wood-end cupola vans (Canadian for caboose) and turned to Hawker Siddeley. After testing a prototype steel van in 1964, CN ordered 150 cars, numbered 79200-79349. The body shells were built in Trenton, Nova Scotia, and final assembly took place at Hawker Siddeley's Fort William plant (now Thunder Bay). Delivered in 1967, these vans were favourites among crews thanks to creature comforts like Waugh full-cushion underframes, electric lighting and axle-driven generators, roller-bearing trucks, twin oil stoves, a refrigerator, hot plate and more. Few changes were made over their 30-year service lives — primarily paint, plus a small number rebuilt for international service with FRA-compliant window glass and orange end striping.
Rapido's HO CN Hawker Siddeley Van returns for 2025 with a fully detailed model that includes super-detailed underbody with all separate air and brake piping, operating marker lights, track light and step lights, full cabin lights and a separately controlled cupola light with full interior illumination, super-detailed Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks with all-wheel pickup, fully detailed multi-coloured interior with cupola handrails, see-through etched-metal end platforms and steps, and separately applied factory-installed metal grab irons.
Schemes include CN's standard liveries plus a faded weathered scheme at a small premium. MSRP $149.95 CAD (standard) / $159.95 CAD (faded). Order deadline was December 15, 2025. Pre-orders require a 25% deposit; balance collected when stock arrives.
This unit: HO HS Caboose: Ottawa Central (ex-DEVCO): #9106
- Hawker Siddeley Van for CN — first arrival 1967, 30+ years of service
- Operating marker lights, track light, step lights and separately controlled cupola light
- Fully detailed multi-colour interior with handrails in the cupola
- See-through etched-metal end platforms and steps
- Super-detailed Barber-Bettendorf caboose trucks with all-wheel pickup
- Super-detailed underbody with separate air and brake piping
- Standard and faded weathered schemes available
📦 Preorder details:
Expected ship date: see the Rapido Product Delivery Schedule for the latest dates
25% deposit required at checkout, balance charged when product ships.
Preorder cancellation: 7 days from order date; deposit non-refundable after that.
Browse more from Rapido Trains and our HO scale collection, or see all preorders. Ships from Oakville, Ontario. Contact us for special orders.