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Atlas - 50 002 031 - Caboose, Cupola, Steel Extended Vision - New England Central - 4044

One  of these sold for an average price of: 26.9926.99One of these sold for an average price of: 26.99
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Collectors value this item at an average of 26.9926.99Collectors value this item at an average of 26.99
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N Scale - Atlas - 50 002 031 - Caboose, Cupola, Steel Extended Vision - New England Central - 4044 Copyright Held by TroveStar
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Stock Number50 002 031
Original Retail Price$28.95
BrandAtlas
ManufacturerAtlas
Body StyleAtlas Caboose Cupola Extended Vision
Prototype VehicleCaboose, Cupola, Steel Extended Vision (Details)
Road or Company NameNew England Central (Details)
Reporting MarksNECR
Road or Reporting Number4044
Paint Color(s)Red
Print Color(s)White
Coupler TypeAccuMate Magnetic Knuckle
Coupler MountBody-Mount
Wheel TypeInjection Molded Plastic
Wheel ProfileSmall Flange (Low Profile)
Release Date2015-07-01
Item CategoryRolling Stock (Freight)
Model TypeCaboose
Model SubtypeCupola
Model VarietyExtended Vision
Prototype RegionNorth America
Prototype EraNA Era III: Transition (1939 - 1957)
Scale1/160
Track GaugeN standard



Model Information: Atlas released the "30" series extended vision caboose in 1996. This model is very similar to the "43" series cupola caboose in most respects. It can be easily distinguished from the standard cupola caboose in that the cupola is wider than the body on the "30" series - hence the name "Extended Vision". This model may or may not have "loop-over" ladders.

It is re-released every other year (approximately). The original releases sported Rapido hook couplers, but interestingly the 1999 release had versions with Rapido as well as versions with real (licensed) Magnematic couplers. As of the 2009 run, it comes with Accumate couplers (only).

The current release from Atlas features:
  • Thin endrails
  • Window glazing
  • Separate brake cylinder
  • Open smoke stack
  • Triple valve and air reservoir
  • Roller-bearing caboose trucks
  • Roofwalk where appropriate
  • Accurate painting and lettering
  • Now with AccuMate couplers
Prototype History:
In the extended-vision or wide-vision caboose, the sides of the cupola project beyond the side of the car body. Rock Island created some of these by rebuilding some standard cupola cabooses with windowed extensions applied to the sides of the cupola itself, but by far, the greatest number have the entire cupola compartment enlarged. This model was introduced by the International Car Company and saw service on most U.S. railroads. The expanded cupola allowed the crew to see past the top of the taller cars that began to appear after World War II, and also increased the roominess of the cupola area.

Additionally, Monon Railroad had a unique change to the extended-vision cabooses. They added a miniature bay to the sides of the cupola to enhance the views further. This created a unique look for their small fleet. Seven of the eight Monon-built cabooses have been saved. One was scrapped after an accident in Kentucky. The surviving cars are at the Indiana Transportation Museum (operational), the Indiana Railway Museum (operational), the Kentucky Railway Museum (fire damaged), and the Bluegrass Railroad Museum (unrestored but servicable). The remaining three are in private collections.
Road Name History:
New England Central was born in 1995 when Canadian National sold the Central Vermont to RailTex. RailTex renamed the line New England Central. In 2000, RailTex was purchased by RailAmerica which has since been combined with the Genesee & Wyoming shortline group.

NECR runs 394 miles of track from East Alburgh, Vermont on the Canadian border just south of Montreal south down the length of Vermont, through Massachusetts, to the port of New London, Connecticut. Along the way, they interchange with CN, Pan Am, Norfolk Southern, Vermont Railway, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Green Mountain, Central Maine & Quebec (recently acquired by CP,) Providence & Worcester and several shortlines.

Traffic includes animal feed, chemicals, compressed gas, construction debris, foodstuffs, fuel oil, lumber, machinery, metals, newsprint and other paper, plywood, poles, recyclables, resins, salt, and vehicles. In addition to mixed manifest traffic, NECR provides intermodal service from the Canadian border to the connection with Providence & Worcester at Willimantic, Connecticut. Between 35 and 45 EMD locomotives work the line (Genesee & Wyoming moves locomotives between their various properties as traffic patterns evolve.)
Brand/Importer Information:
In 1924 Stephan Schaffan, Sr. founded the Atlas Tool Company in Newark, New Jersey. In 1933 his son, Stephan Schaffan, Jr., came to work for his father at the age of sixteen. Steve Jr. built model airplanes as a hobby and frequented a local hobby shop. Being an enterprising young man, he would often ask the owner if there was anything he could do to earn some extra spending money. Tired of listening to his requests, the hobby-store owner threw some model railroad track parts his way and said, "Here, see if you can improve on this".

In those days, railroad modelers had to assemble and build everything from scratch. Steve Jr. created a "switch kit" which sold so well, that the entire family worked on them in the basement at night, while doing business as usual in the machine shop during the day.

Subsequently, Steve Jr. engineered the stapling of rail to fiber track, along with inventing the first practical rail joiner and pre-assembled turnouts and flexible track. All of these products, and more, helped to popularize model railroading and assisted in the creation of a mass-market hobby. The budding entrepreneur quickly outgrew the limitations of a basement and small garage operation. Realizing they could actually make a living selling track and related products, Steve and his father had the first factory built in Hillside, New Jersey at 413 Florence Avenue in 1947. On September 30, 1949, the Atlas Tool Company was officially incorporated as a New Jersey company.

In 1985, Steve was honored posthumously for his inventions by the Model Railroad Industry Association and was inducted into the Model Railroad Industry Hall of Fame in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, Steve was nominated and entered into the National Model Railroad Association Pioneers of Model Railroading in 1995.

In the early 1990s, the Atlas Tool Company changed its name to Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc.
Item created by: gdm on 2015-07-29 07:42:54. Last edited by gdm on 2021-01-04 09:02:09

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