This model represents the standard New York Central caboose. These were rebuilt from predecessors into this common style. Many cars were rebuilt several times. Some cars had their tongue-and-groove siding replaced with plywood siding in later years. Hundreds were in service at one time. Although commonly known to modelers as 19000-series cabooses, some were numbered in the 17000 and the 18000 series as well.
The cabooses were noted for their low “gun turret” cupolas (to allow for tight clearances on lines east of Buffalo). With the arrival of bay-window cabooses, the low cupola cars could be found west of Buffalo as replacements for the high-cupola cars used on NYC subsidiaries.
Railroad Model Craftsman and Model Railroader magazines have printed drawings of these cabooses. The most recent can be found on page 68 of the April 2004 issue of Model Railroader. The drawings are based on NYC 19877. That caboose was donated to the Rochester Chapter of the NRHS in 1987. Besides the scale drawings, there are three views of its interior.