Vision Caboose
Vision Caboose
From children’s toys to intricate collector sets, Lionel toy trains have been setting the standards and dominating the model train industry for over a century.
The inception of the railroad symbolized change. It represented new frontiers and opened up a future that eagerly drew dreamers, prospectors, and entrepreneurs to take to the tracks and embark on an exciting adventure. Trains brought freedom, created opportunity, and impacted history perhaps more than any other invention before or since.
The lumbering of that first steam engine was a breakthrough in technology that fascinated the world and had children begging parents for their own miniature replicas of these beautiful beasts.
Today, model train collecting has been dubbed the ‘world’s greatest hobby’, and although interest in trains has experienced a few lulls over the years, it has recently enjoyed a re-birth due to the popularity of Thomas the Tank Engine, the development of high-speed railways, and the introduction of new technology.
Re-create important historical events, design scenes reminiscent of by-gone days, or capture the nostalgia of an era bursting with anticipation and excitement. Build a scene where the past meets the present and stories come to life by the power of imagination.
Revisit the railroads of yesteryear, replicate a modern station, or help create the vision of tomorrow. Model trains appeal to all ages because they give entrance to a world where the layout, sets, scenery, and accessories are born from creativity and inspiration.
And, Lionels’ have helped feed the passions of railway lovers everywhere by providing quality products with authentic detail and life-like features.
Lionel trains was founded in 1900 by Joshua Lionel Cowen. His first invention, known as the ‘electric express’, was designed as a window display and was not intended for sale. However, so many people expressed interest that it prompted Cowen to begin his first company.
His trains grew in popularity very quickly, and soon he was manufacturing a variety of products including cattle cars, coal cars, passenger cars, stations, tunnels, and other accessories. As the number of homes with electricity grew, the demand for models also increased, leading to the development of a transformer so sets could run from household power rather than costly batteries.
Lionel liked to replicate real trains and changed the models throughout the years so that they always looked accurate and modern. Through two World Wars and The Great Depression the company continued to move forward, incorporating new advancements, adding remote controlled technology, and including realistic features. Today, Lionel has many product lines from themes to collectibles, but it is commonly recognized for three of its most popular sets.
Polar Express:
This is probably the first set that comes to mind when you think Lionel Trains, and was popularized because of the movie ‘The Polar Express.’ It is often credited for rekindling an interest in railroads, especially among children. The attention to detail is remarkable and looks true to the movie with silhouettes of people in the coach car, working headlights, whistle, inside lighting, and a chimney that puffs real smoke.
Pennsylvania:
This is one of Lionel’s most popular sets and is a great starter kit for beginners of every age. Its high quality construction and durability, realistic features including working headlight, whistle, and searchlight, and the variety of extras such as telephone poles, billboard, and extension bridge, make this a great place to begin when considering railroading as a hobby.
Pennsylvania is also available as a passenger set or a Flyer set with flat car, boxcar, and traditional little red caboose. The set can be easily expanded and accessories added as your love for the hobby increases.
Thomas and Friends:
Join Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel on an exciting journey to the Isle of Sodor. Make your own stories come to life with this favorite themed set that comes with trains that move both forward and backward, removable faces to reflect the character’s adventures, and detachable roofs for easy loading and unloading.
Expansion packs are also available so you can help your child build memories and stimulate their imagination with a gift that will provide hours of entertainment and fun.
Lionel toy trains have changed with the times and evolved over the last eleven decades, but they continue to be one of the most known and recognized companies among collectors and model railway enthusiasts.
Jeff Mullins is the creator of eToyTrains.com a Web site dedicated to helping the toy train enthusiast to get the most from their passion. Visit his site for more information on Lionel Toy Trains
Caboose with both Bay window & Cupola [or Wide Vision]?
I know the ‘Rock Island’ railroad had quite a collection of odd ball cabeese.
Did ANY railroad have a caboose with both configurations?
weekendrailroader has it on the money!
I knew I was not loosing my mind!
Mike M. says he’s seen this critter out there somewhere, whether it was this particular one or not.
There you have it:
The CORRECT ANSWER IS “YES, 68-76, there were some of those out there!”
And here’s a picture of one!
Thank You weekendrailroader. You deserve best answer for digging this up!
Well, I don’t think this one exists any longer, but here’s a photo of one that used to be at what was then the Puget Sound Railway Historical Association (Snoqualmie, WA) years ago. It looks like an old wooden Northern Pacific caboose that had the bay window added by Weyerhaeuser at a later point.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28555987@N06/4536314872/
Burlington Northern SD45 Diesel and Extended-Vision Caboose roll swiftly through the Midwest
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N scale ATLAS 35′ “extended vision” caboose/ RF&P /New $18.99 |
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Athearn New HO RTR Wide Vision Caboose, UP/Safety #25427 ATH75196 $19.97 |
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Athearn New HO RTR Wide Vision Caboose, NdeM #44085 ATH74085 $15.97 |
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Vintage Model Power 9125 Transfer Wide Vision Caboose HO Scale Train Car $7.99 |
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Bachmann HO 36′ Wide Vision Caboose, SF BAC17702 $16.19 |
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Bachmann HO 36′ Wide Vision Caboose, EL BAC17728 $16.19 |
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Bachmann N 36′ Wide Vision Caboose, N&W BAC70792 $12.09 |
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Bachmann N 36′ Wide Vision Caboose, SF BAC70752 $12.09 |
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NEW MTH Denver Rio Grande Western Extended Vision Caboose $69.99 |
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HO Scale Burlington Northern Wide Vision Caboose $15.00 |
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LIONEL #17630 UNION PACIFIC EXTENDED VISION CABOOSE $70.00 |
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Bachman 36′ Wide vision caboose ATSF n Scale $7.00 |
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HO Scale Athearn CN Wide Vision Caboose $4.99 |
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RARE MTH PREMIER PROTOTYPE CP RAIL EXTENDED VISION CABOOSE 20-91060 $45.95 |
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RARE MTH PREMIER PROTOTYPE RUTLAND EXTENDED VISION CABOOSE 20-91080 $39.99 |
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Trains Placemat $3.45 Learn about trains with this brainymat. Full- color real-photos shows the many different types of rail cars. The back has extended learning about the parts of the steam locomotives. Perfect for the train lover…. |
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Areea 51 -Digitl Zero/ Overlload [53 Track-2 Cd Set] Track Listing DISC 1: DIGITAL ZERO: 1. Easy – Ajuuca 2. Thorn of the Living – Deviate 3. Planet of the Dead – No Redeeming Social Value 4. Metamorphosis to Evil – Surface 5. Gomorrah’s Season Ends – Earth Crisis 6. Nishinga – Next Step Up 7. Nothing But Enemies – Stigmata 8. Settle – Fahrenheit 451 9. Regret Me Not – Compression 10. Hide – Transpunk 11. Black Queen Is Dynamite – Celestial Season 1… |
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Bachmann Trains Erie Lackawanna 36′ Wide Vision Caboose-Ho Scale $12.04 ###############################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################… |
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Bachmann Trains Santa Fe wide Vision Caboose $11.64 36′ Wide vision caboose includes blackened machined-metal wheels with RP25 contours. It is magnetically operated, body mounted E-Z Mate couplers. Non-magnetic, blackened brass axles with needlepoint bearings. Celcon trucks added weight for optimum tracking.Features include: •Blackened machined-metal wheels with RP25 contours•Magnetically operated, body mounted E-Z Mate couplers•Non-… |
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HO Wide Vision Caboose, CR #22137 $46.97 While cabooses aren’t very common today, there is a popular misconception that caboose development stopped over 50 years ago. It didn’t. In the 1960s and 1970s new caboose designs were still being developed and most freight trains ran with cabooses right through the 1980s. Canadian Pacific solved its need for new cabooses by designing and building one itself. Between 1972 and 1981 CP’s Angus Sho… |
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Digital Video Camera Car Work Caboose Mini NEW IN BOX $129.99 Things just keep getting better and better. The latest in the iDrive series of car camcorders is no exception. High Definition 720p is just one of the advancements we have made to this quality line of video recording devices for your car. Advanced, adaptable and easy to use, don’t go for another drive without the iDrive 3.0. Our highways are stressful enough without you worrying about relying on y… |
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Model Railroader [ June 1974, Vol. 41 No. 6 ] Model Railroading exclusively since 1934 (Remodeled… extended-vision cabooses in HO and 1/4 scales) … |
Tags: extended vision caboose
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 2:40 am and is filed under Toys and Hobbies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.