A Caboose on your trains

[CBCNSfan]

A Caboose on your trains, do you use one?
There are some shortlines that still use a caboose on certain trains to this day. Our local shortline has several and they are still used on the spurlines ( not sure why ) other than carrying a crew for switching duties. At present I'm in the process of stripping 7 Caboose shells for use with all trains on my layout since it's dated to the 70's. Don't believe there were any F.R.E.D's then, were there?
This is one in the CB&CNS Stellarton yard earlier this year.

 

[RailroadJeep]

When making a reverse move, someone has to be riding the point to protect the train over grade crossings and what not. When a crew makes alot of or a long reverse move, they preferably will have a caboose to ride as opposed to hanging off the side of a freight car. I know of a couple locals here on BNSF in Washington that will use these "shoving platforms".

 

[CBCNSfan]

Thanks Chris, that makes sense now, they push the coal trains to the power plant and there are quite a few crossings on the way.
Cheers Willis

 

[abcraghead]

Same goes for P&W. One run goes up to a sawmill in the woods, and there is no runaround there. So they shove the entire train up, with the conductor riding the caboose all the way.

May I ask what sort of cabooses you are doing, Willis?

 

[modelbob]

The Meeker Southern has, and regularly uses, a caboose for the same reason ABC mentions, long shove with no run-around and several public crossings. The caboose is equipped with lights and I seem to recall it has a horn too.

 

[CBCNSfan]

Hi Bob, just checked some other photos and all of the CBNS cabooses have lights both ends, as for horns guess I'll have to ask someone about that.
Cheers Willis

 

[Greg Elems]

Willis,

Are your cabooses going to be like that ex-CN caboose you posted a picture of?

We started loosing the caboose back in 1984 on the UP, old WP lines in California, Nevada and Utah. Florida East Coast eliminated the caboose in the late 60's with early forms of a FRED, IIRC.

Greg

 

[JeffShultz]

Same goes for P&W. One run goes up to a sawmill in the woods, and there is no runaround there. So they shove the entire train up, with the conductor riding the caboose all the way.

May I ask what sort of cabooses you are doing, Willis?

The Dawson Turn is an RC job now, isn't it? So the Conductor is the only person on the train?

Must get boring... 8 miles backing down at very slow speed without anyone to talk to.

 

[CBCNSfan]

I'm not too sure, I'd like to tackle the Point St. Charles like the one shown above, soon as I get up enough nerve to start butchering one. They came out in 1970 ordered by CN, big windows and aluminum trim. I'll most likely try at least one. Being in the 70's I guess they're required. However don't know if a shortline would be buying them

Cheers Willis
Just came upstairs for a cuppa

, Been down there most of the evening butchering a couple of diesels to make one I want.