What is the purpose of a caboose?

Answer 1

It was a car at the end of the train provided as a form of entertainment for the engineer.

It was also a means for the engineer to get even for anything he perceived to be wrong doing on the part of the conductor. When used in this fashion it was followed by these words from the hogger, "Sorry, old man. There's a dynamiter in the train."

Addendum: Lance raises an interesting point, that Wolf has included in his answer. Since the caboose was seen in service on a short line, it may well be that the railroad cannot afford expensive automatic track side detectors, and also with a high probability of being non-union, cabooses may be cheaper to operate.

Some territories have limited sight line for running caboose-less without the use of track side detectors. Limits on train length vary and apply where there are no track side detectors in use. And, short lines aren't always "short," with many having two hundred or more miles of main line track. If the volume of traffic demands running trains longer than what is permitted to be run without a caboose without track side detectors, then a caboose must be used to comply with restrictions, providing an "observation" post, as Wolf stated.

Answer 2

Nowadays, the only purpose for a caboose on freight railroads is for, as already stated, long shove moves so the conductor and/or brakeman don't have to ride hanging from the ladder's on the side's of the cars. That becomes very tiresome after a while and can be quite dangerous. The E.O.T. or End of Train Device replaced the caboose. It's linked up to the H.O.T. or Head End of Train in the lead locomotive and shows how much air the train has for its brakes from the head end to the rear. These things can be a pain in the ***, especially on long trains where sometimes the E.O.T. and the H.O.T. won't link up or unlink enroute because they're so far away from each other. When that happens, the conductor has to walk all the way to the rear of the train and reset it. If it doesn't link up, he stays and continues to reset it until they link up. If they can't get it to link up and there is no way to fix the problem, then your train is restricted to a maximum of 30 mph for the remainder of your trip. At least, that's the speed on Norfolk Southern. Both the caboose and EOT have their advantages and disadvantages.

Answer 3

The conductor and a brakeman would ride in the caboose. They had a number of jobs:
- Watch the train (thus, cabooses had cupolas or bay windows). This used to be more important when steam locomotives spewed hot cinders, starting brush fires, and brass wheel bearings often caught fire.
- Pull the emergency brake when necessary
- Switching and flagging; handy having an extra brakeman on the tail to throw switches, drop fusees, etc.

The caboose also provided a place to do several jobs away from the noisy, cramped locomotive:
- A desk for the conductor to do his paperwork
- A stove for heat and cooking
- Bunks for overnight stays

There were also some terrible hazard; the ka-ka-ka-ka-CRUNCH of slack action was felt hard in the caboose, and it's not unheard of for a potbelly stove to be torn from the floor. People were injured and killed by that.

Cabooses are gone from mainline service, though they are still useful in branchline and switching work. In the old days, trains had 5 man crews. Engineer, fireman (to run the boiler), front brakeman, conductor and rear brakeman.

Answer 4

The caboose is where the contuctor stays and he watches the the rear of the train. Sometimes he puts on the brakes at the rear of the train on the caboose if needed. The caboose is where the conductor makes checks where they are and where they been. If the train needs to back-up, then the condutor is being the enginners back eye in the caboose.

Answer 5

Yeah Wolf, HOGHEAD, I saw a caboose in use on a shortline near the Welland canal in Ontario(Merriton). I couldn't help but wonder what the use would be on a line like that? A place to have lunch on the job?????carry stuff? Any ideas ????

Answer 6

In the 1800's it was necessary to provide living quarters for spare crew members, such as brakemen, coal tenders or stokers, even extra engineers, and is some instances, armed guards! For safety measures (in the event of a collision or derailment where the first car - locomotive - was involved) they were coupled onto the rear of a train.

Answer 7

There are no more caboosesThey are called shoving platforms now. They are for when a crew member needs to be on the point to shove several miles. Also crew members are no longer allowed inside because there would have to be updated heat, toilet and bullet proof glass. Whats funny though is the company says its alright to stand outside with no cover then inside with no bullet proof glass

Answer 8

eyes for the back of the train and in the old days use to house the brake men that would get up on top of the cars and turn the big wheel that put the brakes on prior to hydraulic and air brake systems.

Answer 9

A place to stay for the train guard....the guy who stays at the back of a (goods) train, ensuring safe stops, signals, etc, etc.The very last coach on a train.

Answer 10

there really isnt a use anymore...they used to be on so when ever the train would break in 2 there would be a person on the back to help make repairs...