Cabooses
Extended Vision Caboose #94116 Class NEb
Railroad freight car sizes began to increase dramatically in the 1960s creating crew visibility problems in older caboose cars. To address the problem, the Reading Company ordered ten new cars from the International Car Company of Kenton Ohio in 1970. The new cars featured a higher profile and an extended cupula for trains crews to properly monitor their train. The new Class Nea cars, numbered 94100 thru 94109, featured all welded steel construction and rode on Barber-Bettendorf trucks. Another order for ten additional cars was placed in 1971. Class Neb were numbered 94110 thru 94119. All cars were painted green and yellow to match locomotives. These were the last cabooses delivered to the Reading Company.
Class NEb 94102 in Rutherford on June 5, 1976. Houser collection.
RCT&HS Neb caboose 94116 sits at Leesport yard in 2002. It currently resides in “Caboose Row” on a display track at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in 2026. The car has been primed and awaits painting in Reading colors. It was D&H 35797 and reclassed by that railroad to an NE6 caboose.
Upon Conrail’s start up on April 1, 1976, Nos. 94110 thru 94119 were redirected to the Delaware & Hudson Railroad which had received extensive trackage rights to provide competition to the Conrail monopoly. They were renumbered 35791-35800. Conrail received Class NEa cars Nos. 94100 thru 94109 and classed N-20. Conrail also renumbered the cars 22130 thru 22139. They were the most modern cabooses in Conrail’s fleet and the only extended vision cars.
Extended Vision Cabooses Specifications (As Built)
Builder:
International Car Company
Kenton, Ohio
Length over Strikers: 39’ 1.5”
Dates Built:
1970 (94100 thru 94109)
1971 (94110 thru 94119)
RDG Classes:
NEa Trucks Barber-Bettendorf
NEb Trucks Barber-Bettendorf
Carbody Length: 30’
Carbody Width: 10’ 7.5”
Carbody Height: ??
Carbody Weight: 54,000 lbs