The prototype for this model is actually taken from the drafting table of the Morrison International shop in Kenton, Ohio. Because of the great variety of equipment needs between railroads in the 1950's, International developed the idea of a "modular" caboose design. This conceptual design essentially broke the caboose down on paper into different types or styles that could be built to meet the specific needs of a particular railroad. Rather than trying to force a rigid, fixed design on all the railroads, International felt it better to let the railroad select the pieces to build the caboose to their own liking.
I'm told that this specific model was based on a Belt Railway of Chicago transfer caboose prototype.
This model features shell-mounted Kato automatic knuckle couplers. The wheels are metal and the trucks are actually set up to collect current and route it into the caboose body. Kato has an interior lighting kit designed to work with this model (the same one used for Kato's passenger cars).
Available roads- BN, Chessie, C&NW, PRR, ATSF