I was wondering how many People run Cabooses, Even modern Day you can find them in service. I ran a Caboose when I modeled CNW in 1993. Becuase most of the trains ran as locals and some of them had to shove through Downtowns. I’ve seen CSX use them as Shoving Platforms. I know Pretty much anyone that models about 70s-80s and back runs a caboose, But How about us Modern Day guys. I Like EOTs, but I’ve always run caboose with my train, right until I switched from HO to N scale, I plan on getting the 2 NS cabooses Atlas ran for my layout and they would make appearances every now and then. So who still runs Cabooses?
I have close to 5 cabooses! CSX uses them as shoving platforms on yard jobs the locals here, so that’s what I do (since I model them). All of them are in Chessie paint too, so the yard is quite colorful!
This is why I model the 1950s. A freight train without a caboose is just plain wrong.[:D]
Nope sorry on the Q they were called Way Cars!
Seriously though I love the caboose, I think a train looks naked without one.
Just yeterday my 9 year old was running a rather good looking Zephyr passenger consist with a DRGW caboose on the tail. It did look a little odd, but he was ever so proud of his new kit that he had built.
I run a caboose on one freight and one on my work train. My other freight is cabooseless.
Definitely.
Mike Tennent
[#ditto]
All of mine are scrapped.
I have two both from Centralia Car Shops, One ATSF and one UP.
Both will run on the locals.
Ch
Yeah, we do. Although it may not be too prototypical, my son will sometimes run two cabooses on the back of the same train simply because he likes cabooses. It’s all about fun, and if its not fun, then why do it?
You bet!. Every chance I get… As a matter of fact I’ve got a Southern Pacific Black Widow A-B-B pulling a good mixed freight consist on the main line right now with a period caboose pulling up the rear. Tracklayer
Every engine I own gets a matching caboose.
Every train I run MUST have a caboose.
All trains except yard jobs require a caboose. This includes locals and transfer runs.
Definitely - except they are called Cabin Cars. I model the 1970s. Every train gets a caboose.
Nick
My cabeese are also called “cabin cars.”
I have 3 in N scale, all Bowser. Two are PRR class N5 and one is a PRR N5C.
The rear of one of my N5 cabins is seen in this photo:
I don’t own a single caboose.
However, I have a brake van on the non-locomotive end of every train!
Some of them are full brake vans. These are usually found on JNR through freights that don’t switch cars at Tomikawa.
Rather more are box-brakes - box cars with a brakeman’s compartment on the rear. When switched at Tomikawa, they usually end up at the freight house. Depending on what’s needed, they may get a 180 degree spin on the turntable before leaving town (in the direction from which they arrived.)
Somewhat fewer are hopper-brakes (or, more accurately, ‘coal car-brakes.’) These all belong to the coal-originating Tomikawa Valley Railway. The TTT also owns a ToFu (no lie, no pun - that’s the approved designation) with a skinny brakeman’s compartment in the middle of a drop-side gondola.
Among other aberrations, there’s a long container flat with a brakeman’s cabin in place of the JNR standard container on one end (normally five containers per car - this one carries four.) Ditto a high speed reefer-brake.
As for what may be in store in the future, I’ve been thinking of cobbling up a (water) tank-brake equipped to respond to brush and structure fires along the TTT…
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with tongue in cheek)
Yes, but in N they seem very difficult to find. I think some people are collecting them instead of running them! I run from 1960 to 1980 and this requires a caboose. I know thats a big streach but some equipment lingers for a long time you know.
I model the early ‘modern’ era in HO scale - CN and CP circa 1974. Lots of first generation diesel end cab switchers, high hood road switchers, 40’ box cars, and of course, a caboose on the end of every train.
Yes…All CDB Industies short lines have several cabooses that are used on a as needed bases on long reverse moves other then that a FRED or red flag will serve as a marker.
Yes, in the 1960’s a caboose was part of every train on the Moose Bay. And I picked up an older-era caboose for those days when the Wayback Machine comes on and I end up back in the glorious days of steam.