InterMountain (CCS1068-06) | CA-3 Early Caboose | Union Pacific #3856 "Make Courtesy Contagious" | HO Scale

The prototype early CA-3 cabooses were part of the post–World War II modernization program of the Union Pacific Railroad. Built in the late 1940s, these cabooses reflected the railroad’s transition from aging wooden cars to all-steel construction designed for improved durability, safety, and crew comfort. The CA-3 class utilized a bay-window configuration rather than a traditional cupola, providing better side visibility along increasingly longer freight trains while maintaining lower overall height for clearance flexibility. These cars featured steel underframes, upgraded safety appliances, improved interior accommodations, and were commonly adorned with Union Pacific’s well-known rotating safety slogans such as “Remember—No Accidents in August.” The CA-3 fleet operated system-wide on both road freights and locals and remained in service into the 1980s, before cabooses were gradually replaced by end-of-train devices.

Model Features

Produced through a collaboration between InterMountain Railway Co. and Centralia Car Shops, the HO scale model includes:

• Fully assembled, ready-to-run construction

• Finely molded plastic body with crisp rivet and panel detail

• Separate wire grab irons and ladders for enhanced realism

• Formed or etched metal detail parts where appropriate

• Metal wheelsets for smooth, reliable rolling performance

• Operating knuckle couplers compatible with standard HO equipment

• Accurate early CA-3 body configuration and paint scheme variations (including safety slogan lettering)

• Designed for easy upgrading with optional interior lighting or additional detailing

This combination makes it a strong representation of a signature Union Pacific caboose from the diesel transition era, while offering both out-of-the-box realism and customization potential for modelers.