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| I saw a caboose I didn't know they are still in use? https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23190 |
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| Author: | adammil1 [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | I saw a caboose I didn't know they are still in use? |
This past Friday I believe it was, I was heading home from work on the Northeast Corridor between New Brunswick NJ and Princeton when I saw a short train moving down track 3 I believe on a 4track main line. It was a blue ex-Conrail caboose being pulled by NS or CSX, I can't remember, who controlls the line there? Anyhow first off, I almost never see freight on the NE corridor during the day but this freight train had a Caboose on it! I was wondering what they still use cabooses for in this day and age, and what made this train special. I mean this wasn't piddly shortline railroading, this was a train on one of the most heavily trafficked tracks in the country! Does anyone have any insight? Adam |
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| Author: | diroperules [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: I saw a caboose I didn't know they are still in use? |
Most Union contracts require a caboose on local freights and yard jobs that have to making shoving movements over a mile. Individual crews have been known to waive this requirement when they can get their work done quicker without the caboose. |
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| Author: | wilkinsd [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: I saw a caboose I didn't know they are still in use? |
Railroads often dub these "switching platforms" to be used on trains that have a lot of back up movements. Not calling them a caboose, from what I've been told, keeps them from having to maintain and stock these as cabooses. One railroad, from what I heard, even welds the doors shut, so you can only use the end platform. |
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