Use of cabooses

[Anonymous]

I have noticed that CSX uses an un-manned caboose sometimes on the old SAL Savannah to Columbia line. I was wondering if anyone could explain to me the purpose of these cabooses which have the windows plated over.

[Jackflash]

Can only guess, someone else may know for sure
they might use it for a back up riding platform
maybe those jobs make a lot of reverse moves.
Do all of the trains have them or just some (locals),I havent seen a caboose in about five years ,,,jackflash

[edblysard]

Not for sure, but to hazzard a guess, it because the train make a long back up or reverse move through a curve or two, long enought that the crew cant hang on the side of a car, and needs to be in position to work the air brakes. The reason the windows are plated over is because it cheaper, FRA requires a very strong glass in locomotive and caboose windows, and steel plate is cheaper. Our locomotives have a film or tint, stronger than auto tint on them, to prevent cracks, because its cheaper to replace the tint than the glass.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the possible answers!!

[Anonymous]

I used to railfan in Seattle around Balmer yard and the garbage local as well as a another local serving Boeing in Renton and the east side had cabooses with side windows covered on the lower level and the cupola uncovered as well as the end windows uncovered. I noticed the brakeman/conductor doing paperwork in there as well as being able to operate the switches in and out of the siding. So its still kind of a office and a end of train device all in one.

greg - in belgium now (no cabs here)

[Anonymous]

In Ottawa Ill. the CSX still has a Caboose and still use it like it was intended to be used. They take very good care of it for they know if it ever needs to go for major repair they will loose it.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

The guessers were correct. CSX doesn't call them cabooses, but "riding platforms." They are used by trainmen to protect long shoving movements. We have several ex-B&O baywindow cabeese for just that use. Not only are their windows covered with steel plate, but the doors are welded shut to keep the trainmen out. The trainmen are supposed to ride the platform; the air valve is still functional. There might be some road-use cabooses with functional interiors, but not in my neck of the woods.

[dixieswitcher]

Just to confirm - I spoke with a brakeman at Cayce yard in Columbia a few months ago about this very issue (same SAL line, in fact). He said there's a local that has a 1- or 2-mile reversing move on a regular basis.

Michael from Columbia, SC.

[Anonymous]

We had the same sort of situation on the NS. We had to make a reverse move across a busy road and the caboose was equipped with the safety equipment plus a whistle. Better than riding on the side of a boxcar for two miles with limited visibilty. We also used them in the yard to shove autoracks from the ramp into the departure tracks a distance of about a mile and a half. We also used them to shove down to the Boatyard in Detroit when we picked up empty hoppers from the Delray Connecting. The cabs had full interiors and heat. They were the ones used in the Canadian trains for NS. I wonder if they will use cabs for Radio units instead of having to equip all the engines seems like a smart idea to me, whoops we're talking about railroads here.

[Anonymous]

they use them here in defiance at the gm plant and yard where the switching is very long.
be careful
joe

[Anonymous]

Oooh perfect project for my new N-Scale layout, switching platforms.. not only has this answered my curioisity wehn I clicked on it but it has given me new ideas! Sweet!
-KoledoC