International Car Co. Wide Vision Cabooses

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when International Car Co. introduced the wide vision caboose? The earliest reference I've been able to find was SP's C-40-8 class delivered in 1958. Were there any earlier deliveries? Thanks.

[Sperandeo]

According to Jim Hediger's story in the June 1974 MODEL RAILROADER, "International's Custom Cabooses," the first International wide-cupola caboose was built for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range in 1953. (A logical purchase for the DM&IR, which already owned older wooden cabooses with wide cupolas.)

I believe that the Southern Pacific C-40-8 was a bay window car. The SP's subsidary, the St. Louis-Southwestern or Cotton Belt, bought some wide-cupola International cabooses, but I don't think the SP ever bought any for itself.

So long,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
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[Anonymous]

Thank you, Andy! You've been a huge help. And you are correct on one point: the SSW did purchase the wide vision cabooses, and they were subsequently reclassified by SP as C-40-8. My source for that was http://espee.railfan.net/espee.html. That's also where I got the 1958 date.

On a separate note, I'll be writing to MR, because I am a former Southern Illinois Rail Buff and Cronies member, and the article on Dee Joseph's Hill-Harriman Lines brought back many fond memories.