This Austrian-made model was originally part of the Aurora/Minitrix "Postage Stamp" line of trains (dating back to the 1960s). After Aurora got out of the N scale train business in the early 1970s, Minitrix continued to offer this caboose (now packaged in the familiar Minitrix "plastic box with green and yellow inserts). These were imported into the US by ATI (American Tortoise International). Model Power may have also imported them at one time or another, although Minitrix's packaging generally doesn't make any mention of them. I'm not exactly sure when this model went out of production, but I'm assuming it was some time during the 1990's (when both Roco and Minitrix got out of the North American N scale biz).
These models are stamped "Trix Austria" on the bottom. They have metal wheels and body-mounted Rapido couplers.
This ubiquitous eight window design has been a staple of N scale since the beginning, with virtually every manufacturer offering one version or another of it. It is based on the "ATSF 1900 Series" prototype.
Minitrix also sold a really weird variant of this caboose in their 1980s "Western" trainset. Basically a steel-sided caboose with wood sides painted on!
Know roads (Minitrix) - NP, PC, CN, CP, NYNH&H, UP, ATSF, PRR, B&O, MR, L&N, RI, ICG, Conrail, Transfer (plain red)
AHM imported a nearly identical Roco-made 8-window caboose. The only difference being the 4/4 (rather than 5/3) window configuration -
