I see cabooses rarely on the Youtube webcams. The Dept of Defense DODX are always in pretty good shape. The Schnabel cars travel with cabooses.
And cabooses just show up. Those are usually well worn, but the FL was on the low low end of well worn. It was at Deshler OH, btw.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Henry,That is a shoving platform used on long reverse moves and gives the conductor and brakeman(if the local uses a three man crew) a safe place to ride.
However.
Like all things railroad there are still fully funtional cabooses where the conductor and brakeman can ride during incliment weather on long reverse moves.
That is a old Family Lines caboose..I didn't even know there was any FL cabooses left. Your photo proves at least one rremains.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My comment: What's the point,
the Facebook comments are it should be in a museum