An Athearn model of an Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad steelcupola caboose wearing the original pre 1966 color scheme, prior tosystemwide caboose rebuilding at the Cleburne Texas Railroad Shops.

An Athearn model of an Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad steel cupola caboose wearing the original pre 1966 color scheme, prior to systemwide caboose rebuilding at the Cleburne Texas Railroad Shops., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph this past Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Growing up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1960's, 70's and 80's eras, I have been a lifelong fan of the former Atchsion, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

Prior to the 1995 merger with the Burlington Northern Railroad thus becoming the BNSF Railway, many local railfans like Myself fondly recall the bright red Santa Fe steel cupola cabooses wearing the bright vermillion red color scheme with the large yellow circular Santa Fe logo during the 1970's and 80's.

In 1966, the management at the A,T & S,F, had felt that it was time to rebuild and upgrade their steel late steam era cabooses at the Company's railroad shops in Cleburne Texas. Many refinements like roller bearing trucks, cushioned underframes, fewer and now sealed side windows, air conditioning and the "New" bright vermillion red color scheme with the large yellow circular Santa Fe logo, would become the final word in Santa Fe caboose color schemes.

Prior to the 1966 rebuild program, the Santa Fe's cabooses wore this very plain boxcar red or oxide brown color scheme, and had multiple opening windows, friction bearing trucks, and little else.

This Athearn caboose, is viewed bringing up the rear of my 1960's era Santa Fe switching local, as it was crossing the model of a lift bridge over the Missisippi River at the Illinois / Iowa state line section of the club layout.

Thanks.
Eddie K.