Whatever happened to the 'ol caboose?

[mudchicken]

FRED comments aside, the one place you do not want to be is in the caboose during a collision. Cabeese historically are the first thing to fold-up in a collision(brittle, not much for structural integrity). In lieu of a caboose, wish more places had a brake hose (air whistle and gladhand) connected to the air hose on the end car for long shoves.

(And Ed, you might explain what your arms feel like after hanging on the side of a covered hopper , boxcar or gon on a really long shove. (not the arm hanging on to the radio)........i.e. Why are your arms three inches longer than everybody elses?)

[mudchicken]

FRED comments aside, the one place you do not want to be is in the caboose during a collision. Cabeese historically are the first thing to fold-up in a collision(brittle, not much for structural integrity). In lieu of a caboose, wish more places had a brake hose (air whistle and gladhand) connected to the air hose on the end car for long shoves.

(And Ed, you might explain what your arms feel like after hanging on the side of a covered hopper , boxcar or gon on a really long shove. (not the arm hanging on to the radio)........i.e. Why are your arms three inches longer than everybody elses?)

[enr2099]

Canadian Pacific's E&N Division(now Rail America's Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway) got rid of cabeese(Vans, as they're known in Canada) in the early 1990's. Road freights lost the caboose in 1992, they were still used on work trains up until 2001 when Rail America sent the E&N's last caboose to the McKenzie Northern Railway in Edmonton, AB. Yard and switch jobs, such as the Nanaimo Uptown Switch job, and the Victoria Terminal switch job lost the caboose in the mid-1980's.

Canadian National stopped using the caboose on it's Vancouver Island operations in 1981.

[enr2099]

Canadian Pacific's E&N Division(now Rail America's Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway) got rid of cabeese(Vans, as they're known in Canada) in the early 1990's. Road freights lost the caboose in 1992, they were still used on work trains up until 2001 when Rail America sent the E&N's last caboose to the McKenzie Northern Railway in Edmonton, AB. Yard and switch jobs, such as the Nanaimo Uptown Switch job, and the Victoria Terminal switch job lost the caboose in the mid-1980's.

Canadian National stopped using the caboose on it's Vancouver Island operations in 1981.

[Anonymous]

Ouch -- never thought much about collisions. I guess that wouldn't be a good place to be.

One thing I'm confused about, there are references to cabooses being used for shoving platforms? What does that mean -- how is it used for that purpose?

How long do you guys go hanging on the side of a car on a really long shove (when you've done this)? More than a mile? I imagine there must have been instances of people falling off?

[Anonymous]

Ouch -- never thought much about collisions. I guess that wouldn't be a good place to be.

One thing I'm confused about, there are references to cabooses being used for shoving platforms? What does that mean -- how is it used for that purpose?

How long do you guys go hanging on the side of a car on a really long shove (when you've done this)? More than a mile? I imagine there must have been instances of people falling off?

[mudchicken]

Shove: When a train or switch engines back up/ push cars for a long distance. (Let Ed tell you the evils of "shoving blind", I just got stuck fixing the damage, Usually at 2AM)

The back porch of a caboose is where you want to be if its a long shove. You have a protected place to stand, a light, a whistle (usually), a more effective radio (usually) and your arms are not in danger of falling off after hanging onto a rung for what feels like hours.

[mudchicken]

Shove: When a train or switch engines back up/ push cars for a long distance. (Let Ed tell you the evils of "shoving blind", I just got stuck fixing the damage, Usually at 2AM)

The back porch of a caboose is where you want to be if its a long shove. You have a protected place to stand, a light, a whistle (usually), a more effective radio (usually) and your arms are not in danger of falling off after hanging onto a rung for what feels like hours.

[Anonymous]

Now that you explain it, the answer seems so obvious. [:I]

Thank you for taking the time to explain it.

[Anonymous]

Now that you explain it, the answer seems so obvious. [:I]

Thank you for taking the time to explain it.

[Anonymous]

Cabooses were needed when they had full crews. Most times it was a fairly comfortable place to do the paperwork you had to do. But many a person was injured in a short stop or wreck falling down from the cupola seat. Some were hurt just trying to get down to the lower level. But to me a freight without a caboose, cabin, or whatever does not look right. Bernt T.

[Anonymous]

Cabooses were needed when they had full crews. Most times it was a fairly comfortable place to do the paperwork you had to do. But many a person was injured in a short stop or wreck falling down from the cupola seat. Some were hurt just trying to get down to the lower level. But to me a freight without a caboose, cabin, or whatever does not look right. Bernt T.

[Anonymous]

The caboose became redundant with the reduction of crews and it is much easier to snap a FRED to the last car than to locate and attach a caboose. The bottom line .. money... caused the end of the end (so to speak). Like everybody else, I miss them. I guess this is progress?

[Anonymous]

The caboose became redundant with the reduction of crews and it is much easier to snap a FRED to the last car than to locate and attach a caboose. The bottom line .. money... caused the end of the end (so to speak). Like everybody else, I miss them. I guess this is progress?

[Anonymous]

Okay, I have to ask the question. What is this "FRED" you speak of? [:I]

[Anonymous]

Okay, I have to ask the question. What is this "FRED" you speak of? [:I]

[Anonymous]

You know........FRED......Flashing Rear End Device. The Japanese waycar. Freddie. The "D". ETD
Good ol FRED can make an emergency app. at the end of the train. Tell you if the train is moving. Transmit rear of train brake pipe pressure. He can even tell you how much battery has been used. He is also good at being very quiet at times (comm losses) and sings and dances too.

[Anonymous]

You know........FRED......Flashing Rear End Device. The Japanese waycar. Freddie. The "D". ETD
Good ol FRED can make an emergency app. at the end of the train. Tell you if the train is moving. Transmit rear of train brake pipe pressure. He can even tell you how much battery has been used. He is also good at being very quiet at times (comm losses) and sings and dances too.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

You know........FRED......Flashing Rear End Device. The Japanese waycar. Freddie. The "D". ETD
Good ol FRED can make an emergency app. at the end of the train. Tell you if the train is moving. Transmit rear of train brake pipe pressure. He can even tell you how much battery has been used. He is also good at being very quiet at times (comm losses) and sings and dances too.

Don't forget - he winks really cute, too!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

You know........FRED......Flashing Rear End Device. The Japanese waycar. Freddie. The "D". ETD
Good ol FRED can make an emergency app. at the end of the train. Tell you if the train is moving. Transmit rear of train brake pipe pressure. He can even tell you how much battery has been used. He is also good at being very quiet at times (comm losses) and sings and dances too.

Don't forget - he winks really cute, too!

[Anonymous]

The caboose is not dead yet . Many of the short lines in western Quebec and eastern Ontario still use them.

[Anonymous]

The caboose is not dead yet . Many of the short lines in western Quebec and eastern Ontario still use them.

[Anonymous]

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

[Anonymous]

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Jen

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Jen

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Jen

Like fixing all of Mr.Pines Lies that he posts.Matt has something for him right now[}:)]
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

O.K. Jen, only you would say that. HeHeHe

it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Jen

Like fixing all of Mr.Pines Lies that he posts.Matt has something for him right now[}:)]
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

Around the Chicago area the cabose is used at the end on the SOO line when going around the Belt Railway.

[Anonymous]

Around the Chicago area the cabose is used at the end on the SOO line when going around the Belt Railway.