International Car Company

Extra Wide Vision Steel Caboose Catalog

An observer of modern (post 1960) American steel cabooses may notice a strong similarity between the various railroads. During the '60s, '70s, and '80s the International Car Company enjoyed wide acceptance of their standard steel caboose, which they offered in traditional cupola and bay window styles, as well as the innovative "Extra Wide Vision" cupola style, which combined the height of the cupola with the width of the bay window for unparalleled visibility.

Reproduced here is their sales brochure for the "Extra Wide Vision" style.

In the museum's collection, Soo 31 represents the "Extra Wide Vision" style. The standard cupola style is represented by Great Northern X-71, Reserve Mining 18, and privately-owned Burlington Northern 10280.