Can anyone tell me when wide vision caboose were introduced and if the Great Northern had them?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Alex
ICC introduced the Wide Vision Caboose in the late 1950s (1957, I think). I can’t be 100% sure about GN, but most western roads adopted them.
Nick
ICC=International Car Company of Kenton, Ohio. Took me a minute to decode that one 'cause ICC is more commonly used for Interstate Commerce Commission. I agree with the late 1950s date. Cotton Belt received its first International Extended Vision cars in 1959.
Yes the GN had them. Was fortunate enough to get a photo of one on the end of a BN train in Princeton, IL in May of 1982.
The first extended-vision cabooses were built for the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range in 1952.
OK, the link doesn’t want to take hold, but it’s: http://www.missabe.com/c206.html
The Great Northern had a fair number, BN had a ton of them as I recall since NP and CB&Q all used them too. In the seventies and early eighties the oddity would be a BN train with something other than an ext. vision caboose if my memories are correct.
Oddly enough In my area (St.Paul MN) CP Rail still uses a SOO ext. vision caboose on some trains, I see one maybe once or twice a week.