When during the diesel era did they stop running cabooses on the freight trains ?
I’m sure someone will have more pinpoint information, but if this helps: On Class 1 railroads it was generally a gradual phase out in the early to mid 1980s. However, cabooses, including the small transfer units, could still be seen in m.o.w service and specials later. I remember not seeing anymore cupola style cabooses on Seaboard System trains after 1983 on Florida’s west coast.
i have forgotten the exact year, but i think it was done on the FEC during a long strike during the early 60’s when management decided to play choo-choo. same thing happened on the N&W or NS later on. once the carriers got a labor agreement that reduced the crew size they could all fit on the engine anyway. freds, improved signaling and communications obviated the need for personel on the rear end. when i first started railroading, radio communication was pretty limited and it could be difficult to raise a block operator. now when a crew in southern illinois keys their microphone they are talking to some guy in a basement in omaha. when all else fails, call the dispatcher on your celular phone.
grizlump
It was the mid to early 1980’s when most mainline caboose use was phased out. Cabooses are still used on some locals and transfer jobs where the train has to back for long distances (over a couple miles). It was done over several years at different times by different railroads. It wasn’t a law or a requirement, it was done as the EOT and operations permitted.
Thanks forthe info
I am basically a steamer type but I have a GP20–B23-7and SW1000
So I guess my Coal trains–Ore trains – and Gondola Box Car lash ups can use my cabooses
During a prolonged strike, the FEC experimented with cabooseless operations in the mid-60s. The technology to make it practical, however, didn’t exist until the early 1980s. As late as, 1988 several states still had laws requiring cabooses. To reduce delays, some roads attached cabooses to trains traversing those states for the trains entire run, rather then just the portion through that state.
Cabooses can still be found in areas where extended shoving movements are required.
Nick
In the late 1990s, maybe even 2000, I was considerably surprised to railfan in Galesburg IL on the BN/or BNSF? and a manifest freight headed went came through with a caboose at the rear.
Extraordinary movements such as a Schnabel car are likely to have one or more cabooses in the consist. I thnk military transports might have them as well.
Just last Friday night, the local “patrol” (a Milwaukee Road term) went past our railfanning site on Milwaukee’s south side with a caboose – heading caboose first for some local switching, then came back in normal locomotive - cars - caboose order to the yard. I guess in theory this might be a shoving platform and not a caboose given all the windows that are plated over, but plated windows were a feature of true cabooses too.
Interestingly, that same night Amtrak 342 came by with a genuine observation car at the rear (private car). So in one night in May 2009 we saw a freight train w/caboose and a passenger train w/observation car. The only thing missing was Kodachrome 64!
Dave Nelson
The Big Nasty Santa Fe still uses waycars in Olathe KS on a switcher that works a lot of industrial spurs facing both directions. In fact, I often see the diesel in the middle and waycar on each end. However, they are used as a pushing platform and I understand the doors are locked.
That said, I model Santa Fe in 1989 and I have 20 some of the Centralia ATSF waycars in service, plus a few other brands. All freight trains have waycars with the exception of a few locals. Reason? 3 deck railroad, lots of hidden trackage, a waycar is a good way for a crew to know that when the train comes in sight again it is still intact and has not lost some cars. So I use them as an end of train marker (practical purpose) because I have a thing for waycars.
Bob
It was the mid to late 80’s on the KCS. There’s only one KCS route in Louisiana that still uses cabooses due to some federal law.
Here’s a old caboose I got last week. I do miss seeing them.
I still see Soo Line cabooses fairly regularly in the St.Paul area, once or twice a week anyway. CP serves an oil refinery in St.Paul Park that’s maybe 7-8 miles down the Mississippi from downtown St.Paul. Rather than turn the train they use either an all-brown or a red and white SOO caboose as a shoving platform for the return trip. I did also see a train near Swede Hollow last week that had a Soo caboose on the tail.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming declared their entire railroad to be within yard limits in the late seventies or early eighties, so that they didn’t have to use cabooses on ore trains. Otherwise, as noted they started to be phased out in the eighties.
Hello there is a old Conrail cabooses that NS has near my work. There is a steel shop they load up a few times a month and use it. I think they use it because they have to cross the same road a few times before they are done. It is nice to see it on the rails. That’s one thing I miss the most when watching trains. When I was a kid we would watch the trains just for the caboose you never new what it would look like. Have a nice day Frank
I will try to be nice…
Fred stole my job in 1984…[:(!]
Cabooses is still being use on local freights and mine runs that require long reverse moves.
Freight trains without cabooses are not consistent with my definitions of “train” and “railroad.”
Mark, happily stuck in the post-WWII decade
I was happily shocked to see a caboose on the end of a freight about 2-3 weeks ago in Maryland .
Currently in Jessup Maryland, for shoving platform
At the Westport Terminal RR - never!
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. [:)]
Wolfgang
Running a caboose at the end of the train is something beautifully old fashioned, so on my model railroad a caboose is a must. I can´t recall ever seeing a caboose on a freight train in Germany - must have been in the late 50´s or early 60´s when that practice was abandoned. Some of the Class 50 steamers (2-10-0´s) had a doghouse on their tender - haven´t seen that in use as well. Steam was abandoned in 1977 in West Germany, East Germanyran steam in regular service (standard gauge) until 1988 - also without cabeese.
Btw, the German word for caboose is “Gueterzugbegleitwagen” or “Freight Train accompanying Car” - greetings to Mark Twain!
And those cars run behind the engine, not at the end of the train.
Wolfgang
Is that the Indy Hood Railway?