Hello to everyone. I am long time RR fan since since I was child looking at Rock Island in Chicao, ILL to Southern Pacific in Houston where I joined the Army in 93. I hear rumors and such the "Caboose" is making a come back. Of course with costs these days being on the chopping block, I doubt it. Anyone put some like to this subject? I know there are many pros and cons to a Caboose.
Lewis
US ARMY Active (18years)
Fort Polk, LA 71459
I am more likely to win the lottery, than I am to see the Caboose back in regular service. There are some around still, most have had their doors and windows welded shut and are actually "Shoving Platforms", rather than proper Cabeese. There are a few still in use as proper Cabeese, but the number is small and shrinking.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
I have seen a couple cabeese still in use on switching services, but they were grim looking graffiti cover hulks. I shudder to think how bad they mus have been inside. I can only assume they were only being used for a simple shelter for crews between shoving jobs as the engine cab would get really crowded otherwise.
Have fun with your trains
ArmyMustang I know there are many pros and cons to a Caboose.
Pros? -- Well, even the traditional usages of serving as a tail-end look-out platform became complicated due to larger and taller rolling stock (hence the bay-windows and wide coupolas in later (post-1960) Cabooses), hence the preponderance of automated track-side detectors.-- Makes a usable shoving platform...but then again, so does a MOW flat-car.-- The train crew has to only schlep half as far along the train to resolve an issue (solution - ballast capable Segways for all!)Heck, I think Cabooses are now being retired from their second life as theme motel rooms and storage sheds...
I have some questions about shoving platforms. I'll start with: is there a maximum speed for a train operating with a shoving platform in the lead?
MidlandMikeI have some questions about shoving platforms. I'll start with: is there a maximum speed for a train operating with a shoving platform in the lead?
The San Diego Rail Museum posted this Operations Rulebook on their site, and state that is it similar to those used on many railroads in the US.
Taking that as true, the relevant rule would seem to be:
6.5 Handling Cars Ahead of Engine When cars or engines are shoved and conditions require, a crew member must take an easily seen position on the leading car or engine, or be ahead of the movement, to provide protection. Cars or engines must not be shoved to block other tracks until it is safe to do so. When cars are shoved on a main track or controlled siding in the direction authorized, movement must not exceed: 20 MPH for freight trains 30 MPH for passenger trains Maximum speed for snow service
When cars or engines are shoved and conditions require, a crew member must take an easily seen position on the leading car or engine, or be ahead of the movement, to provide protection. Cars or engines must not be shoved to block other tracks until it is safe to do so.
When cars are shoved on a main track or controlled siding in the direction authorized, movement must not exceed:
OK, clearly that does not apply in all cases (Push-Pull commuter services for one certainly exceed 30MPH), but I guess it's a reasonable rule of thumb for shoving platforms.
Keep in mind most shoving platforms are still (at this late date) repurposed former road cabooses which could handle track speed, and not flatcars with handrailings
Cabooses never entirely went away, a few are still in use. CP's St.Paul Yard has several old Soo Line cabooses on a caboose track that they use as shoving platforms for trips down the Mississippi River to a large oil processing plant. It's quite normal to see a train with a couple of CP or Soo engines and a Soo caboose on the line paralleling Hwy 10/61 on my way to and from work.
If an ex-caboose shoving platform may lead a train going 20mph, why are the doors welded shut? A grade crossing accident could cause serious injury or death to the crewman. It would seem to be a safety and medical cost issue.
Because of over-rigid regulations from the FRA. A caboose has to meet a minimum set of requirements to be occupiable. Hence the blanking of windows on cabooses in the 1980's before they were mostly elliminated from use. Window glass had to be FRA approved, cheaper just to do away with it. Also open cabooses and even engines make nice bedrooms and even bathrooms for homeless people. When I worked for the DM&E we had a homeless man using the Brookings wayfreight engine for his personal latrine. Needless to say the crew was outraged when they came to work every morning and the cab had to be cleaned before it could be used Of course they finally installed a lock on the door and the problem disappeared, but it did cause a few uncomfortable mornings and needless delays.
Matt
I'm guessing that to get a caboose compliant as a shoving platform shelter, those FRA rules might involve more besides a safety window at each end (and maybe a lock.) I suppose if it was easy it would have happened by now.
MidlandMike If an ex-caboose shoving platform may lead a train going 20mph, why are the doors welded shut? A grade crossing accident could cause serious injury or death to the crewman. It would seem to be a safety and medical cost issue.
The shoving platform isn't meant as a crew shelter.
In the absence of a shoving platform car, the crewman would be hanging off the ladder on the first cut in the shove. It's up to him (or her) to relay instructions to the engineer, so he decides whether it's safe to cross at a grade crossing, or if they need to stop and an unprotected crossing, he'll be the one to flag and stop traffic before giving the go-ahead.
The shoving platform simply provides a more comfortable place for the crew member to stand, instead of hanging on to a ladder for a long shove.
Push-pull passenger trains are quite different as the train is actually being directly operated from the control cab in the lead passenger train, not from the locomotive at the rear with a crew member on the front of the movement relaying distances and instructions verbally.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Does NS use that little red caboose boose for show or a real purpose?? I see it infrequently passing through Roanoke , on the (cam). Just curious.
Jim
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
switch7frg Does NS use that little red caboose boose for show or a real purpose?? I see it infrequently passing through Roanoke , on the (cam). Just curious. Jim
It is a "Shoving Platform" for the reverse move back to the west.
Next time you see it go west, switch to the VMT webcam and you will see from 1 to 3 men standing on the rear platform. At least one of them has either a radio to communicate to the engineer at the other end, or has a valve connected to the brake pile to control the move.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Semper; thank you for the info. Still they area rare sight to see. 9yr.old nephew of mine ask me if the caboose was pulling the train on a past viewing of the rail cam in Roanoke. One of the (gems) from a young child.
Cannonball