American Model Builders, Inc. is located in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been
in business since 1984. They carry approximately 360 items in a variety of
scales. They offer laser-cut wood structure kits and detail parts, as well as
pre-masked acrylic passenger car sides with laser-cut door openings and grab
iron holes The Covered Barge was the Rail-Marine equivalent of the Railroad
Boxcar. Many of the United States' "Eastern" Railroads maintained huge
"Railroad Navies". The NYC, PRR, LV, CNJ, Erie, DL&W, NH and others all had a
variety of craft on their rosters, everything from Railroad Harbor Tugboats,
to Stick Lighters, Scows, Floating Livestock "Yards" , Station Floats, Car
Floats and Ferries. There were even Floating Grain Elevators, which to the
inexperienced are some of the most ungainly water craft imaginable. Many of
these barges roamed the Northern East Coast, from Maine, southward to the
Carolinas, all carrying Railroad Freight. Large concentrations of activity
could be found in Portland, Maine and Philadelphia, with the biggest operation
centered around New York City. Railroad Tugs pushed, pulled and maneuvered all
these craft from the piers of New York and New Jersey, and up the Hudson
River. The historical records of tonnage moved by the Rail-Marine craft are
astonishing. In most cases, this "tonnage" was called "lighterage" by the
rail-marine folks. Lighterage was, simply put, just about anything the
railroad navies hauled from one freight dock to another. Many times Barges and
Stick Lighters were tied up alongside ocean going ships in order to load the
lighterage on board, often, as the ship was imminently ready to sail. Freight
was transported this way from the late 1800s up until the 1960s. The
"Inspiration" for our line of Rail-Marine Kits was a two part article, written
by Don Spiro, that appeared in the December, 2002 and January, 2003 issues of
Railroad Model Craftsman. For any model railroader who is not aware of the
aspects of Rail-Marine operation, an incredible surprise awaits them as there
was an interesting variety of equipment used, not to mention the interaction
between railroad navies and their respective land based counterparts. For
those who already know the "treasures" of this fascinating world, AMB
hope to provide you with the largest variety of high quality Rail-Marine
models to be produced. We also hope that our kits will find their way to the
workbenches of the "uninitiated" modelers and that they, too, will discover
the Rail-Marine World.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Katy Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Nickel Plate Road Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Illinois Central w/Side Door Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Southern Pacific - Class C-30-1 Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. Add the finishing touch to your Southern Pacific freights with this detailed replica of the C-30-1 series caboose of the 1920s. The HO Scale model features laser-scribed siding, peel and stick windows and doors, plus a carefully engineered cupola that can be built with full glazing or with the windows blanked out with wood. All of the components are designed to fit around the Athearn floor and frame.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Chicago Great Western 33' Car w/Extended Vision Cupola Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 30' Sidedoor Waycar Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Seaboard Air Line - Class 5CC Plywood Sheathed Version Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Great Northern 25' Car Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kit -- St. Louis - San Francisco - "Frisco" Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. The Frisco's West Springfield freight car shops built this design of wood-sided road cabooses in four lots between 1938 and 1946. A total of 110 cars were built and a few remained in service into the late 1970s.Kit features laser-cut end ladders plus a choice of wood or steel cupola and canvas or metal roofing.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Illinois Central "Iowa Division" 28' Car Without Side Door Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Norfolk & Western Class CF Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 28' 3-Window Waycar Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. Owned and operated from the 1904 consolidation until the 1970 merger, many of these waycars received at least one if not two rebuilds during their lifetime. Kit includes parts to construct several variations, plus an Athearn underframe, Grandt Line turnbuckles and American Model Builders white-metal smokejack. Prototype photo shown.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Minneapolis & St. Louis Bay Window Car Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. Between 1942 and 1949, the Minneapolis & St. Louis constructed 56 25-foot, steel underframe bay window cabooses at their Marshalltown, Iowa car shops. Many cars lasted into the 1960s working for the C&NW. Kit includes intricate laser-cut bay windows, white metal smokejack, laser-cut ladders, and a unique handrail bending jig.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Rock Island - Standard Version Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Atlantic Coast Line Class M3 w/Plywood Sheathing Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kit -- Illinois Terminal w/Bay Window Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. In the early 1940s, the Illinois Terminal shopped five former 4000-series wood-cupola cabooses of 1912 design, converting them into bay window cars. The cars saw systemwide use and lasted well into the diesel era. The kit includes cast-resin bay windows, laser-cut end ladders and brake wheels, and a drilling jig.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kit -- Northern Pacific 1200 Series Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. The NP's 1200 series of 24' cabooses were built as early as 1907, yet they lasted for many years. 145 of the cars were renumbered into the 1200 series in 1942 and rebuilt again in the 1950s with modern safety appliances. This kit represents this post-War appearance. Many of these cars survived up to the BN merger. The kit includes all the end railings and ladders, two brakewheels, and a jig for bending your own grab irons; as well as both widths of ladder landings on the roof.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Florida East Coast As-Built #700-800 Series w/Side Door Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis/Louisville & Nashville; Post-1949 Rebuild Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. In 1935, the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad acquired several cabooses from the Florida East Coast. Renumbered 30-44, they became class NE-3 and were later rebuilt without side doors. In 1949, nine were rebuilt for branchline passenger service and remained a common sight on mixed trains into the mid-1960s. This kit represents the 1949 rebuilding for passenger service and includes custom scribed sheathing, Peel & Stick windows, doors and roofing material, cast resin steps, unique laser-cut end railings, ladders and handbrakes, plus a white metal smokejack casting. (Trucks, couplers, glue, paint and decals are all sold separately.)

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Santa Fe Sidedoor Waycar NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers.

Laser-Cut Wood Caboose Kits -- Minneapolis & St Louis #1100 Series w/Cupola Features "outboard" style cupola roofwalks and grab iron holes designed to accept Detail Associates parts. Cabooses feature tabbed and slotted construction, peel and stick windows and doors, and custom Laser-Scribed siding. Includes Athearn floor and frame, AMB cast white metal marker lights, needle beams and queen posts. NOTE: Kits do not include trucks and couplers. In the late 1930s, the Minneapolis & St. Louis received nine used 95000 series cabooses from the Lehigh Valley - these were first steel underframe crummies on this Midwest road. After complete rebuilding at their Iowa Central Shops into full-width cupola style cars, the M&StL renumbered their new 32' wood sheathed cars #1100-08. In 1940, these cabooses served as patterns to build twelve nearly identical cars, numbered 1109-20. The entire series was used extensively on the system and several were still in service when the Chicago & North Western took over in 1960. Working closing with original drawings and information from the Chicago & North Western Historical Society, this kit builds into a striking replica of the prototype. The 100% laser-cut kit features Tab & Slotted basswood subwalls and Peel & Stick, custom scribed siding, doors, windows, and trim. An accurate detailed underframe and cast resin steps are included, along with delicate, laser-cut brake wheels, ladders and end railings. The kit is finished off with a white metal smoke jack, and brass wire is included for bending your own hand holds utilizing the printed templates. Couplers, decals, and trucks not included, but suggested brands and part numbers are listed in the instructions along with painting tips and an illustrated history of the prototype written by M&StL historian Gene Green.