Athearn HO ATH Wide-Vision Caboose

Perhaps one of the most recognizable icons of American railroading,the caboose completed the train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew atthe end of a train, who were long required for switching and shunting,and to keep a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment andcargo, and overheating axles. In the extended-vision or wide-visioncaboose, the sides of the cupola project beyond the side of the carbody. Rock Island created some of these by rebuilding some standardcupola cabooses with windowed extensions applied to the sides of thecupola itself, but by far, the greatest number have the entire cupolacompartment enlarged. This model was introduced by the InternationalCar Company and saw service on most U.S. railroads. The expandedcupola allowed the crew to see past the top of the taller cars thatbegan to appear after World War II, and also increased the roominessof the cupola area.