The TRRA and the Manufactures Railways had some very odd looking cabooses, they didn’t look any longer than an ore car on the DMIR. I have pictures here, can anyone shed any light on who built them, when they were built, and when they awere retired?
http://bnsfkline.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=15507
The ALS 7 and 8 are what would be referred to as ‘transfer cabooses’. These are frequently built by the owning railroad for use where a road caboose isn’t needed. Quite often, the cabins are installed on old, modified flatcars that get equipped with corner steps and safety railings. The Great Northern Railway had four cars of this nature, but they had an important difference-they were built on the underframes and trucks of old, retired Baldwin diesel switchers, thereby making then suitable for hump yard service.
I’ve seen pictures and read about old steam locomotive tender frames being used to build transfer cabooses. And old box cars modifided to road cabooses, with end steps, bay windows, etc…