Prototype ops question

[PMW]

Thanks. I’m glad to have that info. But the longest trains on my modest layout will not be more than 12 or 13 cars. Furthermore I can use JMRI ops to have only the locals on the shorter staging tracks perform the long shoves requiring a caboose.

 

[Greg@mnrr]

The other other thing that cabooses may still occasionally be used for is as a "rider" car for special movements, usually of extremely heavy and oversize load moves.

Living near the Union Pacific yard in Butler, Wisconsin I have seen an old C&NW caboose used by the Union Pacific in switching moves near the yard. The caboose had seen better days, but served the railroad well as a shoving platform.

Greg