Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order these HO scale replicas!
Our seventh caboose model is the HO Scale Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window Caboose System. This Southern Railway system covers the 1969-1974 deliveries of cabooses from Gantt Manufacturing. These 253 bay window cabooses served the SOU, and later NS, into the mid-1990s. After railroads purged large portions of caboose fleets, some SOU survivors made it into the 2000s and beyond, including one 2014 repaint into the NS/SOU Heritage scheme! Some are still used in today’s world of NS shoving platforms. These Southern cabooses were built by Gantt Manufacturing in Greenville, South Carolina and are easily recognizable with welded construction, terminating Stanray diagonal-panel roof edge, large windows, and bright “Fire Protection Red” paint. This Tangent caboose marks the first “high-detail” RTR Southern Railway caboose replica in HO scale, and is being released today.
By 1969, the Southern Railway and its subsidiaries served 13 states, with over 10,000 miles of track. With the slogan “The Southern Serves the South,” freight schedules cris-crossed the southeast. The railroad modernized its locomotive fleet with second generation EMD and GE power through the 1960s and 1970s. New cabooses were part of this modernization program, since the 1940s-early-1950s SOU Hayne Car Shops-built steel bay window cabooses were showing their age and needed replacement. To that end, Southern turned to Gantt Manufacturing to build several orders of new and “modern” steel bay window cabooses in both road service and local service configurations.
These cabooses were all delivered in Southern’s iconic red paint and proudly ran system wide from the hottest manifest trains down to the meandering local trains. While the first group of Gantt cabooses were built with running boards in 1969, these fixtures were soon removed. By 1970, new caboose deliveries were showing up with a modern, no-roof-walkway look. Local service cabooses stood out with yellow bay windows, while the road cabooses were solid red. The Local Service cabooses would be rebuilt in the late 1970s with roof-top solar panels to provide marker light power. The road cabooses were equipped with truck axle-mounted generators to charge the battery system.
Our Tangent Southern Railway Caboose System covers the 1970- through today era, and includes the following Gantt-built series:
- SOU X200-X250 (1971-1972) Local Service
- SOU X260-X271 (1973-1974) Local Service
- SOU X403-X429 (1969) Road Service
- SOU X430-X485 (1970) Road Service
- SOU X486-X592 (1970-1971) Road Service
Through the 1970s and 1980s, these Gantt cabooses would receive various versions of Southern’s red paint and make up the “core” of the Southern caboose fleet! If you see a red Southern caboose, it almost always is one of these! The cabooses served widely on Southern Railway rails, as well as offline in many instances either via run through operations or trackage rights. In addition to the bright “Southern” lettering, some of these cabooses were stenciled for Southern’s subsidiary Central of Georgia, carrying small “CG” or “C of G” initials.
So, if you model St. Louis, Danville, Birmingham, New Orleans, Macon, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Alexandria, Asheville, or somewhere else in the many places the 10,000+ mile Southern Railway served, we have a caboose for you! Oh, and don’t forget that these cabooses have been documented offline in places where you would not expect them, either in a “normal” run-through arrangement or an unplanned situation – so if you model a Southern interchange railroad or just love classic Southern/NS power, now is your chance!
It’s difficult to understate the importance of these Southern-design Gantt cabooses, as they were the primary road cabooses for the last 14 years of the Southern and first decade-plus of Norfolk Southern. This era is an incredible period of change for railroads like the SOU, and it is easy to see why Tangent has planted its Southern caboose flag here.
And now, on to the models! The Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window Caboose System is a state of the art, dimensionally-accurate group of scale replicas with highly accurate “true-to-life” colors and precise letter stencils. Our SOU cabooses were designed from meticulous field dimensions, and include incredible levels of detail such as multiple era-specific bodies, roofs, ends, two different underframe assembly options, brake wheel options, caboose truck options, generator options, solar panel installation options, toilet air tank, rooftop antenna, multiple smoke stacks, accurately scaled window treatments, plus beautiful steps and end platforms with accurate tread detail. Inside the model is an accurate SOU Gantt-applied interior. Our Southern cabooses include interior lighting, plus FRA End Light (SOU-style, i.e. non-flashing!) options that are appropriate for the paint scheme era of each replica. These “no fuss” track-powered interior and exterior lights are compatible with DC or DCC setups right out of the box (a simple wand included in the box activates the lights). Finally, our ready-to-operate replicas include “near-scale” draft gear box including side “key” detail, coupler lift bars accompanying Kadee® scale couplers, sufficient hidden weights, and CNC-machined wheels to ensure the model operates as good as it looks.
We want to be very clear. The Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window System is not a generic model painted red, like what you may “already have.” This is Tangent-Level execution of bay window caboose details, covering Southern’s Gantt 1969-1974 production. These different body and build options cover multiple eras, paint schemes and modernization programs, all with accurate lighting options plus era and road number specific details.
The Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window Caboose System of replicas is AVAILABLE TODAY and include the following seven RTR schemes plus two undecorated kit options:
– Southern Railway (SOU) Road Service “Original 1970” w/ Interior Lights replicates the as-delivered SOU paint scheme and configuration from Gantt Manufacturing. The carbody is painted “Fire Protection Red” with “Yellow Target” steps, railings and axle generator. The roof is accurately unpainted (i.e. silver), but if you look closely, you will notice the red overspray coming up from the sides and onto the roof surface. This overspray is documented in photos and we carefully duplicated that look on the model. The black underframe shows off all of that great detail, including center sill pad printing for the reporting marks and car number! This is a sharp paint scheme, no matter how you look at it. The white SOUTHERN lettering fills the left side of the car, and the small data lettering is carefully drawn, including the BLT stencil matching Gantt’s distinctive typestyle. Notice the “high” mounted ACI label, accurate for a Gantt-delivered scheme. It’s these little things that make this scheme look “right” to your eye. This group of cabooses was built without roof-top walkways, and the model’s Stanray roof reflects this accurately. Tucked next to the smokejack is a Motorola “firecracker” antenna. The one side of the caboose body features the battery access door and charging plug. Underneath, the 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with 33″ standard .110” tread CNC wheels are equipped with an accurate Safety Electric generator. Notice the cut-out area above this style of generator on the carbody. The ends of the caboose feature accurate Gantt-fabricated railings and power brake posts, along with little details like an accurate air release valve and pipe, SOU-style round end reflective target, and retainer valve and pipe on the B-end next to the door. The large body and bay windows allow you to view that full Tangent interior. For lighting, this Tangent Southern model is equipped with “golden” interior lights, mimicking the incandescent bulbs of the real cabooses. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss! We are offering our Southern Road Service “Original 1970” scheme in 8 numbers. Each car number features accurate month and day data in the BLT and LUB stencils.
- SKU -01 is bult 8-1970
- SKUs -02, -03, -04 are built 9-1970
- SKU -05 is bult 10-1970
- SKU -06 is bult 11-1970
- SKUs -07, -08 are built 12-1970
This is a hot scheme! SKU 60610
– Southern Railway (SOU) Road Service “1976 Repaint 1979+ Era” w/ FRA End Light & Interior Lights gives modelers a neat era-appropriate repaint scheme. This group of cabooses is pulled from the Gantt Feb-Jun 1970 build group of Southern prototypes. The cabooses were originally equipped with running boards, but are long gone by the time of this repaint date and era. The prototypes were repainted in 1976 by Southern’s Hayne Shops in Spartanburg, SC. This Tangent model picks up with these prototype cabooses in 1979. So what does all of this mean? The models feature a repaint version of the Southern red scheme, have roof walkway brackets on the roof, and are equipped with red end lights. This is a detail configuration that would run from 1979 to the Norfolk Southern merger and then into the 1990s serving out their years as the last cabooses in revenue service on Norfolk Southern. Up on the roof, you can spot the previously mentioned walkway brackets. Take a close look and notice the bolt holes in each one! The smokejack has been replaced in this era, with a distinctive flaring style. The ends have been modified. Notice the centered, lower round reflective end paddle is gone, and replaced with a red FRA marker light. This light is “solid on,” i.e. it doesn’t flash, matching Southern Railway practice. The underframe features things like a red-painted air reservoir and ABD valve, accurate for Southern painting practices. For lighting, this Tangent SOU model is equipped with “golden” interior lights and FRA red end lights. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss! We are offering our Southern Railway Road Service “1976 Repaint 1979+ Era” scheme in 8 numbers. Each car number features accurate Hayne Car shop repaint date stencils and related month and day data in the COTS stencils. The car numbers and data move to match photos. Appropriate stepwell safety slogans are also applied for the 1979 timeframe.
- SKUs -01, -02 are 9-76 repaints in the 1979 Era “Aware-Alert Arrive Unhurt”
- SKUs -03, -04 are 4-76 repaints in the 1979 Era “Dismount At Safe Speed”
- SKUs -05, -06 are 3-76 repaints in the 1979 Era “Get a Good Grip On Safety”
- SKUs -07, -08 are 11-76 repaints in the 1979 Era “Take Care Not Chances”
Variety is a wonderful thing! SKU 60611
– Southern Railway (SOU) Local Service “Original 1971” w/ Interior Lights duplicates the SOU “Local Service” cabooses, as delivered new from Gantt Manufacturing. Local service translates to no electricity in the caboose. Yes, these cabooses were built “dark,” so that means the interior is lit with oil lamps and there is no radio equipment. The exterior of the caboose was painted in the familiar red paint scheme, but with one important change: a bright yellow bay window to keep these cabooses clearly marked from the road pool. The Tangent model shows off all of these distinctive features for your local trains. The roof is accurately unpainted (i.e. silver), but if you look closely, you will notice the red overspray coming up from the sides and onto the roof surface. This overspray is documented in photos and we carefully duplicated that look on the model. The black underframe shows off all of that great detail, including center sill pad printing for the reporting marks and car number! The white SOUTHERN lettering fills the left side of the car, and the small data lettering is carefully drawn, including the BLT stencil matching Gantt’s distinctive typestyle. Notice the “high” mounted ACI label, and trust data, accurate for a Gantt-delivered scheme. That yellow bay window looks great with the silver window frame trim. This group of cabooses was built in 1971, so that means it was built without roof-top walkways, and the model’s Stanray roof reflects this accurately. The roof features an accurate style of smokejack for Gantt’s 1971 production. Underneath, the model is equipped with 50-Ton Plain Bearing Caboose Trucks with Leaf Springs. The ends of the caboose feature accurate Gantt-fabricated railings and power brake posts, along with little details like an air release valve and pipe, SOU-style round end reflective target, and retainer valve and pipe on the B-end next to the door. The large body and bay windows allow you to view that full Tangent interior. Even though there is no electricity, the cabooses are equipped with a full, 1971-modern interior that includes padded bay window bench seats and a chemical retention toilet! For lighting, this Tangent SOU model is equipped with “golden” interior lights, mimicking the oil lamps of the real local cabooses. A wand is included to operate the lighting – easy with no fuss! We are offering our SOU Local Service “Original 1971” scheme in 4 numbers. Each car number features accurate month and day data in the BLT, Paint and LUB stencils.
- SKU -01 is bult 8-1971.
- SKU -02 is built 10-1971
- SKUs -03, -04 are built 11-1971
This is a sharp scheme! SKU 60612
– Southern Railway (SOU) Local Service “Repaint 1979 with Solar” w/ FRA End Light & Interior Lights shows off one of those paint schemes and configurations that is the very definition for many of a Southern Railway caboose. SOU refurbished their “Local Service” Gantt-built cabooses in the late 1970s, as radio use became more prevalent and electric red marker lights needed to be added to the ends. SOU’s innovative approach resulted in Solar panels being added to the top of the roof to charge a battery system on the prototypes. These Tangent caboose models stand out with a carefully replicated (non-working!) solar panel rack, clear “Lexan” covers, battery box and wire conduit setup. There are actually two prototype placements for the Solar panels. We chose the mounting brackets that line up with the end of the carbody for these car numbers, all refurbished and repainted in 1979. The models feature a repaint version of the Southern red scheme, including COTS panels and U-1 inspection dots as shown in the prototype photos. In this era, Southern was applying various safety slogans at the steps of each caboose. We have applied “GET A GOOD GRIP ON SAFETY” at the steps, accurate for the September of 1979 repaint/refurbish date of the models. The smokejack has been replaced in this era, with a distinctive flaring style. The ends have been modified. Notice the centered, lower round reflective end paddle is gone, and replaced with a red FRA marker light. This light is “solid on,” i.e. it doesn’t flash, matching SOU practice. The underframe features things like a red-painted air reservoir, ABD valve and brake cylinder, accurate for Southern painting practices. Underneath, the model is equipped with 50-Ton Plain Bearing Caboose Trucks with Leaf Springs. For lighting, this Tangent SOU model is equipped with “golden” interior lights and FRA red end lights. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss! We are offering our SOU Local Service “Repaint 1979 with Solar” scheme in 4 numbers. The COTS data and Cobra Shoe stencils change slightly to match photos of each car number. SKU 60613
– Norfolk Southern (NS) “MOW Ballast Train Service 1992″ w/ FRA End Light & Interior Lights gives the NS modelers a neat application of NS Orange MOW paint and a new assignment for some of the Gantt cabooses. In 1992, the NS assigned 10 cabooses to ballast train use. The experiment only lasted a few years. Painted orange, they really stood out in the train! 7 of the 10 known ballast train cabooses were pulled from the prototype Gantt caboose series covered by the Tangent SOU models. We are offering two different examples for this release. Both share the same paint scheme, with an orange carbody, black underframe and yellow stepwells and handrails. Safety first! The sides display a large bold NS logo and ballast train assignment stenciling. The smokejack has been removed but next to its former location is a Motorola “firecracker” antenna. The one side of the caboose body features the battery access door and charging plug. Underneath, the 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with 33″ standard .110” tread CNC wheels are equipped with an accurate Safety Electric axle generator. For lighting, this Tangent SOU model is equipped with “golden” interior lights and FRA red end lights. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss!
- SKU 60614-01 is lettered for NS 500001MW and originally built in 10-1970. It never had a roof walkway, and this is correctly reflected on the model
- SKU 60615-01 is lettered for NS 500002MW and originally built in 3-1970. It was originally built with a running board (long gone, of course) but it features the remnant running board brackets on the model’s roof.
Two great examples of variety for your NS ballast trains!
– Norfolk Southern (NS) “Chattanooga Terminal 2008″ w/ FRA End Light & Interior Lights is a familiar sight to those in Tennessee. The real caboose sits inside Norfolk Southern’s DeButts Yard in Chattanooga, TN at a picnic grove. It was repainted bright red in 2008 for the NS Chattanooga Terminal, promoting the slogan “Your Choice, Our Future.” The one side of the caboose body features the battery access door and charging plug. Underneath, the 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with 33″ standard .110” tread CNC wheels are equipped with an accurate Safety Electric axle generator. For lighting, this Tangent NS model is equipped with “golden” interior lights and FRA red end lights. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss! SKU 60616-01
– Norfolk Southern (NS) “Southern Heritage 2013″ w/ FRA End Light & Interior Lights is an interesting example of “heritage” paint at the caboose level. Starting in late 2013, NS refurbished several cabooses through Freightcar America in Roanoke, Virginia with new paint and NS graphics, adding N&W and SOU predecessor logos. This example of NS 555761 is the only ex-SOU Gantt caboose to receive this treatment. The model features fresh red body paint, silver roof, black steps and underframe and yellow safety appliances. A classic “The Southern Serves The South” logo adorns the car side. The prototype caboose was pulled from an ”early” Gantt build group that originally had a roof walkway. While that walkway is long gone, the model still has the prototypical roof brackets up on that gorgeous Stanray roof. For lighting, this Tangent NS model is equipped with “golden” interior lights and FRA red end lights. A wand is included to operate the lights – easy with no fuss! This scheme is available in one prototype number. SKU 60617-01
– Undec Kit – “Road Body 1969-1971+” is an unassembled kit version of the Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window Caboose in its as-delivered Road body configuration. This kit matches SOU X403-X592 and includes the Road body shell, with battery compartment details on one side. This kit can be used to model a caboose in the 1970+ era that used to have a roof walkway (i.e. roof walkway brackets) or a caboose that never had a roof walkway (no roof walkway brackets). This kit includes end part options for the as-delivered ends as well as ends with the 1979 era FRA lights. Part options also cover brake wheels and smokejack variations. This kit is UNLIT — no electronics are included. It is perfect for those who want to build their own caboose or want to customize their own lighting circuit options. Ready for building, painting, and lettering for a favorite prototype or your own private road. This kit includes 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with power-pickup and 33″ standard .110” tread CNC wheels. You supply your own favorite couplers. SKU 60600-01
– Undec Kit – “Local Body 1971-1974+” is an unassembled kit version of the Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window Caboose in its as-delivered Local body configuration. This kit matches SOU X200-250, X260-271 and includes the Local body shell. This kit can be used to model the original configuration of the Local cabooses as well as the modernized Solar part additions in the late 1970s. This kit includes end part options for the as-delivered ends as well as ends with the 1979+ era FRA lights. Part options also cover brake wheels and smokejack variations. This kit is UNLIT — no electronics are included. It is perfect for those who want to build their own caboose or want to customize their own lighting circuit options. Ready for building, painting, and lettering for a favorite prototype or your own private road. This kit includes 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with power-pickup and 33″ standard .110” tread CNC wheels. You supply your own favorite couplers. SKU 60601-01
Besides the above kits, we are extremely pleased to add another brand-new caboose truck in our industry-leading lineup of HO Scale trucks available on our website:
– 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks with power pickup is a pair of our all-new roller bearing trucks as seen on Tangent’s SOU Gantt Bay Window Road Cabooses. These trucks have a separately installed brake beam part, and power pickup with wires attached. The right axle of one side of one truck features a ‘Safety Electrical’ brand axle mounted generator, in either a horizontal or vertical mount. (You choose, based on your prototype — both part options included!) This makes them perfect for your own caboose projects! The trucks contain CNC-machined blackened brass wheels, and we are pleased to offer this new truck in both .110” Standard tread and .088” Semi scale tread versions.
- SKU 2035 (.110” Standard Wheels)
- SKU 2036 (.088” Semi-Scale Wheels)
All of these models can be seen at www.tangentscalemodels.com!
These cabooses are shipping today! Features for these replicas include:
- Dimensional accuracy – designed from meticulous field dimensions using real tape measures on four real SOU Gantt cabooses – see “thank you” section below for more details for our project field research
- Highly correct “true to life” colors
- “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
- Genuine Kadee® scale couplers
- “Near-scale” draft gear box
- Multiple road numbers for each scheme, as appropriate
- Road and Era-specific details for each RTR scheme, including multiple body, roof, underframe detail and truck combinations
- A beautiful Stanray “terminating” diagonal panel roof with accurate huck bolt details everywhere!
- Accurate step and end tread patterns
- Underframe details to match as-built Gantt configurations
- Multiple roof configurations for different roof walkway bracket, antenna and solar panel mounting locations
- Underframe and truck axle drive generator options
- Different end railing/marker light options, based on Gantt build date and era
- Two different wire “coupler lift bar” detail options, per prototype application
- Accurate SOU-specific interior, including iconic angled-back notched bay window seating, conductor desk and stationery equipment locker, tall lockers, coal stove, coal bin, open toilet area with retention tank, sink, water storage tank, ice chest and more. The interior is accurately painted in Southern’s Silver Gray Enamel.
- Full underbody details – brake system with brake rods and piping, release rod, and even the toilet air flush tank for the inside retention tank – all based on the prototype!
- Beautiful side wire curved grab irons and intricate Gantt end railings in plastic
- LED illuminated FRA end lights with a proper SOU “solid on” (i.e. no flash) that can be controlled on or off – on each end – independently, where appropriate by paint scheme
- LED illuminated interior lighting “warm” lights to replicate Aladdin lamps or incandescent bulbs of the prototypes that can be controlled on or off
- No complicated decoder. No complicated programming. No complicated electronics. DC/DCC compatible track-powered “no fuss” interior and marker light lighting – simple and easy to operate with included wand
- CNC-machined standard RP25 .110” tread 33” wheels (Yes, semi-scale .088” wheels are available separately!)
- Two Southern Railway truck options: “Road” cabooses are equipped with all-new 70-Ton Barber Roller Bearing Generator Caboose Trucks, and “Local” cabooses are equipped with all-new 50-Ton Plain Bearing/Leaf Spring Caboose Trucks.
- Recommended age 14 years and older
In order to bring you this project with the level of research required for prototype perfection, we needed to measure and photograph five examples of these cabooses! We would like to give a big “thank you” to:
- – The Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge TN, for allowing us to spend an entire day measuring SOU X261, one of the 1971-built local cabooses. X261 is likely the only Southern Railway solar-equipped caboose with the “solar system” still intact), and as a bonus also still wearing multiple layers of original SOU paint. We had cooperative weather to measure things right. The only “sin” with this caboose? It was retrucked at some point. But keep reading…
- – The Old Fort Railroad Museum in Old Fort, NC for maintaining a beautifully restored SOU X581, a 1971-built road caboose. Sometimes you just have to pause and appreciate a restoration and an intact, perfect interior that looked just like the day it was released from Gantt in Greenville, South Carolina.
- – The Knox County Tennessee Public Library in Corryton TN for keeping an eye on the SOU X571, a 1971-built road caboose. Why is this one important? Because somewhere along the way to being stuffed and mounted on the library’s lawn, it got a pair of the original “Local Service” plain bearing trucks installed underneath. Accurate caboose truck measurements road trip!
- – The Craggy Mountain Line in Asheville, NC for giving us access to measure truck details of their restored and operating SOU X488 and X582 cabooses.
This photo montage shows just a little bit of the “fun” that we go through to bring you these caboose models!
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models Southern Railway Gantt Manufacturing Company Bay Window System, our seventh release in the Tangent caboose line. Pricing for RTR models is $134.95, with quantity discounts for direct purchases from Tangent Scale Models.
Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order!
