Cabooses

[Anonymous]

I'm JUST getting (back) into trains again. I'm starting an N scale layout. I haven't decided what "era" to model. Does ANY modern 'road still use cabooses? Around the greater Philadelphia area I NEVER sees cabooses any more. Fill me in on the "status" of the caboose in modern railroading, please.

[Anonymous]

The only time I've seen cabooses lately, is on transfer moves through a city when the train has to travel backwards. This way, you have an observation platform for safety reasons. I'm sure there are other reasons you might see a caboose from time to time.

[AltonFan]

UP uses old C&NW cabeese on locals that switch industries.

[JoeKoh]

Csx uses its caboose the same way here in Defiance.It has an operaton lifesaver logo on it.
stay safe
Joe

[espeefoamer]

Santa Fe uses cabooses on its locals around Fullerton.I was in Alaska in 2001 and the Alaska Railroad used cabooses on about half of its trains[8D]

[Train Guy 3]

Only place a I see cabooses are on work trains and maybe a something doing industrial work.

[locomutt]

P&L hab been using them in the local area,but have not
seen any in recent days.

Where is the CSX using them in Ohio[?]
I was under the impression that CSX had
totaly discontinued them[V]

locomutt[8D]

[Dough]

I'm too young to remember when cabooses were common place on trains so I pay alot of attention when I finally do see them. Their seem to be quite a few used by CSX in GA. Check out this site:

http://garailfan.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=344

I see the one in Athens daily, although they have a slightly differnt caboose now. As was said above it is use when they have to backup the local.

I have also seen a NS red one on the back of a freight headed north throught Gainesville, GA. And I saw a Conrail caboose on the back of a LONG train of box cars in Erie, Penn on a CSX line. Both of those were in the past two years. While rare they are out there...

[locomutt]

Thanks Dough, I didn't know CSX used them in Ga.
The only place tha I really knew about is Va, something about
state law.

locomutt

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

Santa Fe uses cabooses on its locals around Fullerton.I was in Alaska in 2001 and the Alaska Railroad used cabooses on about half of its trains[8D]

Well, ARR uses cabooses mostly on its work trains. There are cabooses on gravel trains. Probably because they need to monitor them when the train is loaded, that my guess.[?] I don't think i've seen a caboose on any other trains.
And of course, cabooses are not used on passenger trains.

BTW, Where in Alaska were you?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Iowa Interstate uses cabooses on its trains into Chicago since a long backup is required to deliver to the IHB Blue Island yard.

[Anonymous]

Someone made a post in another thread about UP having trouble with people jumping on trains and throwing merchandise off the train to waiting thieves. If the UP would put some cabooses back on the trains where this is happening and man them with railroad police it could help put a stop to this. It seems like a good idea to me.

[willy6]

i watched the history of the caboose on TRAINS UNLIMITED recently. they said now adays a caboose is used on circus trains, military trains,and trains carrying SPECIAL cargos(what ever that means). i saw a handful parked on the CSX yard in Rockingham,N.C.

[Anonymous]

Up here (Minnesota) the BNSF still uses extended-vision BN cabooses on their locals over the Hinckley Sub (Twin Cities - Superior) and on the "Osseo Line" (Minneapolis - Monticello) and probably elsewhere. I've been told they use them when they know they'll have to perform long shoves for purposes of visibility. I've seen them several times.

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Someone made a post in another thread about UP having trouble with people jumping on trains and throwing merchandise off the train to waiting thieves. If the UP would put some cabooses back on the trains where this is happening and man them with railroad police it could help put a stop to this. It seems like a good idea to me.

The SP did this for years along the Sunset Route. Put specially equiped cabeese mid train, too. Then along came Uncle Pete, a person who doesn't like cabeese. Sigh.[V]

[Anonymous]

In Delaware, Amtrak uses cabooses all the time on its transfer/work trains from its Bear Shop back to the NEC and its Wilmington Shops. I see one at least once a week.

-Tom

[Anonymous]

I too have seen an Operation Lifesaver Caboose on a CSX train here in Maryland, near Harpers Ferry. It has been a while though!

[locomutt]

Okay, How come Uncle PETE
Did not like CABEESE[?]

locomutt[8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt

Okay, How come Uncle PETE
Did not like CABEESE[?]

locomutt[8D]

locomutt [8D]

I don't think uncle P likes anything that cost money. He is sorta a cheap skate. [:(]

[Anonymous]

Now that I remember it, the Chicago Central used to use a ratty-old ex-IC center-
cupola caboose on their Cedar Rapids-Manchester turn (not sure if that's the right
name for that job). They'd run one train per day each way to/from the former IC's
Iowa Division main at Manchester, Iowa. The caboose wasn't at all the prettiest
thing you ever saw - heavily rusted and weather-beaten but enough IC orange left to
make the IC fans happy. I'd see it on the end of the train after its arrival in the old
IC yard in Cedar Rapids on my way into work from I-380 looking towards the power
plant. After the Illinois Central re-acquired the CC&P I don't recall having seen it
being used and now with CN in control (the Canadian National in Iowa - that's just
plain sick) it's probably gone for good.

[espeefoamer]

Alaskaman, I was on an Alaska Railroad tour,one that covered all three passenger routes.I saw a number of trains that we passed.[:D][8D] BTW I took a number of tours,including Denali National Park.It was Awsome![:D]