Former American Model Builders Kit

In 1946, the New York Central introduced a new service, the fast and dependable Pacemaker Freight Service. Speeding less-than-carload packages between New York City and Buffalo and intermediate cities, with connections to fast freights to other online Midwestern cities, the service provided options to shippers who work on tight schedules and required precise timing. An example allowed cloth mills neighboring Utica, NY same-day loading on Pacemaker Freight cars with arrival in New York City's garment manufacturing centers the next morning.

To provide this service, 1000 specially equipped boxcars and five cabooses were rebuilt with distinctive colors to make up trains of harmonious design. The upper halves of the equipment were painted vermilion red and the lower halves dark gray. Roofs, under frames and trucks were painted black with all white lettering. Special brake equipment known as AB-1-B type, which is designed for high-speed freight service, as well as Waughmat Twin-Cushion, double-acting, rubber draft gears were applied to all boxcars and cabooses. These additions reduced the shocks of starting and stopping protecting the shipments and the crew.

The five cabooses selected for the Pacemaker Service came from Lot 732 and were numbered 20112, 20117, 20129, 20132 and 21033. These cabooses were originally built NYC’s East Buffalo, New York shop on the frames of 1910 era 36-foot boxcars in 1944. In outward appearance these cabooses resembled the NYC 19000 series “standard" caboose with short offset cupola, but were more than five feet longer than the standard caboose. Converted in 1946 for Pacemaker Service, in addition to the brake and draft gear modifications the tongue and groove siding was replaced with plywood sides giving them a smooth sided appearance.

Kit No. 888 features 100% laser-cut components with custom laser-scribed side and end walls; Tab & Slot and Peel & Stick construction; laser-cut underframe, end platforms, end railing, and brake wheels; cast resin platform steps and brake gear; white metal smokejack; custom decals by Tichy Train Group; fully illustrated instructions that provide information on painting and decaling the assembled models; and several fixtures to aid the modeler in creating all the handholds and ladders appropriate for the prototypes. In addition, the HO scale kit provides for optional details too, such as square or rounded body corner posts, side windows that can be modeled open or closed, cupola end window variation, and a complete set of screen doors and windows. We recommend the purchase of Tahoe Model Works Barger-Bettendorf Swing Motion Caboose Trucks, Kadee No. 5 couplers with draft gear boxes, and the paint and glue of your choice for the completion of this kit.

HO Scale 888 $64.98

Key words: New York Central NYC Pacemaker Caboose Way Car