Wood Vans and Transfer Vans
HO Scale $54.99 All models are available individually. Assortments can be separated for individual sale.  GOLD SERIES | Canadians call their cabooses vans. Or so I'm told. John Riddell states that CP preferred the word caboose, but even the 1985 CP Rail Equipment roster used the word 'van.' But we're going to use Van just to confuse those not from the Great White North. Canadian National Wood Offset Cupola Caboo...er...Vans Beginning in 1941 and continuing into the '50's, Canadian National started converting 30- and 40-ton box cars into wood sheathed vans. These conversions resulted in a very large group of vans with similar characteristics of two squat rectangular windows on each side. Over the years the cupolas were often strengthened either with angle bracing, reinforced corners, or both. These cabooses were long-lived, running into the 1980's. We've updated the tooling on these models with more correctly shaped windows. In 1950 and 1953 more box cars were converted into transfer or yard vans. Used in yard service they did not require a cupola. The design is very similar to the offset cupola van, minus the cupola. Canadian Pacific Wood Offset Cupola Vans While superficially resembling the CN Vans, they have rectangular windows. The most striking difference was the cupola. Taller than the Canadian National cupolas, they also had a unique window arrangement with a single large window on the side, closest to the 'B' end of the car. Originally these cupolas had ten(!) windows, three each on the front and back, and two on each side. During the 1930's the forward window on each side, and the middle windows on the ends were removed. |
