Why no Caboose/guardvan in US???
- Thread starter sravan
- Start date
Torpedo423
Steam Forever
We used them for a while, it was a basically the conductors office, now the conductor rides in the locomotive cab and the caboose has been replaced by the EOT (End Of Train device) which is the little rectangular yellow/orange box on the very last car of the train. The EOT sends information about the train to the locomotive, such as length, air pressure, etc. You still see one on a train every now and then depending on where you are, what railroad and so on. I saw a caboose on the end of a short 20 car local train the other day. They are also used as shoving platforms when a train is going in reverse and the engineer can't see all the way behind the train.
Most of the time now, you can only see a caboose on display or on a tourist railroad.
Most of the time now, you can only see a caboose on display or on a tourist railroad.
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legolistic
also a rubiks cube fan
I think Australia uses them, because on certain journeys, there isn't a single town or facility for 2000 miles. I think it looks like a passenger car, and is located close to the engines. I also think that they bring along extra fuel tanks just in case.
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Last time I ever saw a caboose on a working train was in 03, That was 7 years ago and I was only 10 but I remember it clearly. We were on the Amtrak Coast Starlight pulling into Seattle, WA. It was a BN center cupola caboose. The train into was pulling into the yard and the car directly in front of the caboose was a tankcar. Then we passed by it. I don't know why but sometimes I still see it in my mind as we passed by the caboose. I do remember being surprised and running to the window when I saw it.
Torpedo423
Steam Forever
Closest you could probably get to walking around a yard is at a museum, say like Strasburg. You can just walk around the yard as long as you don't get in the way. It's kinda neat seeing all the old locos awaiting their turn for restoration.
Ghostryder
QDRN CEO
Legolistic
Certain services running here use crew cars and are normally marshalled in behind the locomotives, Not all services have one. The humble Guards van was phased out in the mid 1980s replaced with either a BOG or ETMs.
ghosty
Certain services running here use crew cars and are normally marshalled in behind the locomotives, Not all services have one. The humble Guards van was phased out in the mid 1980s replaced with either a BOG or ETMs.
ghosty
cascaderailroad
New member
There used to be up to 5 crewmen on US trains ... but they abolished many job titles and obsoleted them completly. Some trains nowdays are ROCO with only a radio control operator on the ground. The better for: See Photos: http://www.csx-sucks.com/pictures/
http://www.csx-sucks.com/pictures/?crash2.jpg
All my PRR trains have N5C cabooses, and 2 rear end helper loco's.
http://www.csx-sucks.com/pictures/?crash2.jpg
All my PRR trains have N5C cabooses, and 2 rear end helper loco's.
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"I think Australia uses them, because on certain journeys, there isn't a single town or facility for 2000 miles. I think it looks like a passenger car, and is located close to the engines. I also think that they bring along extra fuel tanks just in case."
2,000 miles is a slight exaggeration.
Some services between Adelaide and Perth across the Nullarbor Plains and up to Darwin have a crew car behind the locomotives to allow relay working - one crew works the train while the other crew sleeps in the crew car.
Some services also have a tank car consisting of two tank containers mounted on a flat car behind the locomotives. This provides on-line fuelling of the locomotives on the longer trips so that the train does not need to stop to refuel.
Here's an example of both a crew car and tank car:
Phil
2,000 miles is a slight exaggeration.
Some services between Adelaide and Perth across the Nullarbor Plains and up to Darwin have a crew car behind the locomotives to allow relay working - one crew works the train while the other crew sleeps in the crew car.
Some services also have a tank car consisting of two tank containers mounted on a flat car behind the locomotives. This provides on-line fuelling of the locomotives on the longer trips so that the train does not need to stop to refuel.
Here's an example of both a crew car and tank car:
Phil
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BLACKWATCH
Mechanical Engineer
Watching the webcam at Roanoke, I have seen 2 or 3 freight trains with a caboose on the rear, so NS still use them now & again, but not often.
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
Though the questions has been answered, I still want to answer. 
First, let me welcome you to the United States!
When it comes to cabooses, it's pretty simple. They were as common as cross ties for every engine, there was a caboose. Back in the day (a day Euphod probably remembers
) the caboose was used to guard the backside of the train and was a home for the conductor and flagman. It included a desk for the conductor to do paper work on and a few seats to sit in and of course a cupola or bay to view the train from. It also included a wood burning stove and usually a toilet. Some cabooses had closets under the cupola to store things like flag, flares and torpedoes. Like another once common railroad piece, the steam engine, cabooses were kicked out the door by technological advances. An item called the FRED replaced the caboose, using computer systems was able to do the cabooses' job and more. It cut crew size from 4 or 6, to only 2 or 3. Now, cabooses are used occasionally for shoving platforms, which usually means they have no windows and the doors are bolted or welded shut. Some companies, like Norfolk Southern have converted some into test cars and Operation Lifesaver cars.
If you would like to view cabooses, there rae many railroad museums across the country that feature restored pieces.
Cheers and Welcome,
Woody
First, let me welcome you to the United States!
When it comes to cabooses, it's pretty simple. They were as common as cross ties for every engine, there was a caboose. Back in the day (a day Euphod probably remembers
) the caboose was used to guard the backside of the train and was a home for the conductor and flagman. It included a desk for the conductor to do paper work on and a few seats to sit in and of course a cupola or bay to view the train from. It also included a wood burning stove and usually a toilet. Some cabooses had closets under the cupola to store things like flag, flares and torpedoes. Like another once common railroad piece, the steam engine, cabooses were kicked out the door by technological advances. An item called the FRED replaced the caboose, using computer systems was able to do the cabooses' job and more. It cut crew size from 4 or 6, to only 2 or 3. Now, cabooses are used occasionally for shoving platforms, which usually means they have no windows and the doors are bolted or welded shut. Some companies, like Norfolk Southern have converted some into test cars and Operation Lifesaver cars. If you would like to view cabooses, there rae many railroad museums across the country that feature restored pieces.
Cheers and Welcome,
Woody
Hello Trainz people, thanks a lot for the valuable information u gave me.
hi Ilinoiscentral.thnanks for sharing i saw cabbose when i went to pennsylvania rail road museum in pa,iin usa alot tech is there i guess, so they replaced caboose,but in india,i guess for safety we r still using them on every train,being india as 4th largest network in world.i am really happy to be an member among you.
hi Ilinoiscentral.thnanks for sharing i saw cabbose when i went to pennsylvania rail road museum in pa,iin usa alot tech is there i guess, so they replaced caboose,but in india,i guess for safety we r still using them on every train,being india as 4th largest network in world.i am really happy to be an member among you.
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
I figured you would probably visit the Pennsylvania RR Museum, excellent place.
Yes, technology has gotten the better of some of our more nostalgic areas of railroading, however I would say we are still a step down from other nations in rail infrastructure, especially our passenger system. However we do have private and shareholder owned freight companies rather than a nationalized railway system, which I like. I believe India's system is nationalized isn't it?
Cheers,
Woody
Yes, technology has gotten the better of some of our more nostalgic areas of railroading, however I would say we are still a step down from other nations in rail infrastructure, especially our passenger system. However we do have private and shareholder owned freight companies rather than a nationalized railway system, which I like. I believe India's system is nationalized isn't it?
Cheers,
Woody