06-13-2010, 06:50 PM
Gary, I would say 1979 would still have a caboose. If your line is a union line it definitely would have a caboose at that time unless a contract was negotiated. The companies had to give the union fellows a lot of promises to eliminate the caboose. It is my opinion that FRA rules were another reason for the quick demise of the caboose, because of the required installation of bullet resistant glazing which cost around $4000 at the time. (you will notice on some pictures that windows even got welded over as this P&LE cab has lost the side windows))
Many of the cabooses you see in use today have the doors welded shut so the crew can't get inside. It's legal to ride the platform, but if you are inside the glazing has to be type 1 or type 2, and now I think true cabooses are all required to have toilets unless you are within 30 minutes of a rest room...therefore they have "Push platforms"
Charlie
Many of the cabooses you see in use today have the doors welded shut so the crew can't get inside. It's legal to ride the platform, but if you are inside the glazing has to be type 1 or type 2, and now I think true cabooses are all required to have toilets unless you are within 30 minutes of a rest room...therefore they have "Push platforms"
Charlie