Description
The Northeastern Caboose traces back to a Reading Company design from the early 1920s — an all-steel caboose based loosely on a USRA proposal (which had specified wood sheathing). The Reading built 285 cars in several classes, with the earliest on solid underframes and later cars on Duryea cushion underframes. The design proved so successful that several other roads ordered nearly identical cars from the Reading and from their own shops, including the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh & West Virginia and Western Maryland. Production was spread out, so variations are everywhere — different trucks, running boards, steps, grabs and end-window arrangements. Many of these cabooses outlasted mandatory caboose operations on Conrail and Chessie, then moved on to short lines, tourist roads, museums and even hotels.
Rapido's HO Northeastern Caboose is offered in two major variants. The original release covers the Lehigh Valley-style body with porthole end windows, rain gutters above the side windows, three-tread steps, etched-metal Apex running boards, and Andrews or Birdsboro trucks. The new solid-underframe variant adds two different cupola roofs, two- or three-tread steps, and full Duryea cushion underframe details. Both variants include factory-installed semi-scale metal knuckle couplers, operating interior lights, and Rapido's MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC lighting.
Featured schemes include the LV Bicentennial paint celebrating America's 200th birthday. MSRP $109.95 USD / $139.95 CAD. Order deadline was December 15, 2025. Suggested minimum radius is 18". Pre-orders require a 25% deposit; balance collected when stock arrives.
This unit: HO Northeastern-style Steel Caboose: RDG - As Delivered Scheme: #92875
- Lehigh Valley-style body with porthole end windows and rain gutters; new solid-underframe variant available
- Two different cupola roofs; two- or three-tread steps
- Etched-metal Apex running boards; etched window frames and screens
- Andrews or Birdsboro trucks; full Duryea cushion underframe on new variant
- Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers; full operating interior lights
- MoPower capacitor for uninterrupted DCC lighting
- Includes LV Bicentennial scheme; 18" minimum radius
📦 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.