2006-09-22 08:57:53 · 10 answers · asked by tnoe2005 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Rail
The little red caboose is gone forever, though they came in many colors and served multiple functions.
Featherbedding was not an issue involving cabooses or the employees who used them. The issue of featherbedding concerned the craft of "locomotive fireman". Long past the last days of steam fireman were still in the cab of each engine. Though the name of the craft remained, they were more properly student engineers.
There positions were eliminated in the 1960's, until the early 70's when, as a result of short sightedness, there were no fireman to promote to engineer to fill retiree's vacancies. They were brought back, with those who had been canned having the first shot at employment. These were known as C6 firemen. The act that brought them back was the "manning act." The craft was finally abolished in the late 80's.
One function of the caboose was as an office for the conductor. Way bills accompanied the freight cars with information on lading, tonnage, route, etc. Train delay reports, set out and pick up times recorded, etc. were additional tasks of the conductor.
In addition, the rear brakeman, or "flag man" rode there to protect the rear of the train when stopped as described above. In addition, when entering a siding or yard track where the switch needed to be returned to its "normal" position, the rear man was there to "line back".
The caboose was equipped with an air gage that needed to be monitored to determine the condition of the "brake pipe" (air line) when underway, as well as when needed to perform required air brake tests. There was also an emergency brake valve if needed.
When in work train service the caboose was a place for track men and laborers to ride, as well as when in snow service.
Most of the above is now accomplished through a rear end telemetry device called "FRED", with two way radio communication with the locomotives in the engineer's charge. So, technology has made them obsolete.
In addition, they were a terrible liability owing to the many serious injuries that resulted from occupied cabooses getting knocked around by less than proficient engineer's train handling practices, or emergency brake application. Both of these create a lot of "slack action", and in a long train it is like sitting at the end of a whip. Imagine rolling along at 12 or 15 or 20 miles an hour and hitting a brick wall. Same thing, no seat belts. If you were standing when it happened, you kept going 20 mph until running out of room in the caboose, then you stopped.
They are not all gone, however. Some short lines and special services still run with the caboose.
2006-09-22 11:50:35 · answer #1 · answered by Samurai Hoghead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Another good reason they dumped them was they were dead weight so it cost the railroads fuel to pull one . You would be surprised on how much money they claimed they were saving but not having them . The only use today for a caboose is for a shove platform ,the unit trains over a mile long it gives the crewmen somewere safe to stand while the train is being backed up for long distances beats hanging off the side of a car .
2006-09-22 15:03:54 · answer #2 · answered by leland c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, originally the caboose housed braking machanisms for the trains. at some point they developed an electronic box that could handle the job, thus allowing them to do away with both the caboose and the brakeman. It was all about saving a few bucks.
2006-09-22 09:07:01 · answer #3 · answered by Star G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The caboose was there to house the rear engineer. His job was to look out for trains approaching from the rear by kerosene lantern. So the forward train would not be hit. Then yes they were used for various other jobs and finally done away with when the full automation of our tracks was complete in 1992
2006-09-22 09:27:07 · answer #4 · answered by ebay junkie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just railroads cutting cost...Soon you may see trains with only an engineer in the cab... Railroads contend they can have an over the road vehicle in the area if the engineer has a problem..ie ..separation, broken knuckle, etc....Just another way to save money but you would never know that if you saw the exorbitant salaries of upper management...
2006-09-23 05:06:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They where there for the crew to sleep and keep an eye on all the train cars to make sure everything is operating properly. Now those jobs have been replaced by computers and sensors.
2006-09-22 09:00:46 · answer #6 · answered by bretttwarwick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's where they put the extra workers they didn't need. It was called Feather bedding. They don't hire workers they don't need anymore
2006-09-22 09:00:04 · answer #7 · answered by Whoa_Phat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Have a look at http://vdkphotos.aceblog.fr/
2006-09-22 09:25:54 · answer #8 · answered by JC 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why, but I do miss them. It's like a bit of Americana died.
2006-09-22 11:00:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no i wonder also...those a really cute. maybe they still do somewhere.
2006-09-22 09:05:16 · answer #10 · answered by mrsgilleland 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋