I found this boose while searching the area of La Mirada along the BNSF mainline:




Are there still a few Caboose's still being used? This one looks to be in pretty bad shape lol, maybe there just transporting it somewhere for renovation and display?

I believe they are still used sometimes on switching intensive locals. I think

Could be a testing car now...?

or maybe they just hang them around like most boxcars, empty hauled from spot to spot for no reason

I've seen quite a few come through this area on the tail end of trains. Some in pretty bad shape. Don't know where they were being hauled too but you could tell that nothing was left on the inside of them. Maybe that caboose is being hauled to be restored to the original look. Or it could be being hauled over the line to another part to be used in MOW service.

Up here in Saskatoon the CN likes to run a caboose on their local that runs around the city. They have a pair of GMD 1 switchers that pull a short train of about 10 cars back and forth through the city quite often.

Railpictures.net has the following pic http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=104277&nseq=5 of the train. this day they had a 3rd loco and you cant quite see the caboose.

CP keeps one at Bedell Junction for the local switch job that serves the Co-op and a lumber dealer (I think). Don't know for sure if these industries are even rail served anymore, but the caboose is visible on the south leg:

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Interesting note on the junction - the north/south line (no longer continuous across the double main) is the remnants of the first railway into Ottawa - the Bytown and Prescott.

Andrew

Norfolk Southern still uses one on a local on the old PRR Trenton Cutoff. The train has to do a lot of switching and reverse moves in Coatesville and there are a good number of grade crossings that require protection.

I've very occasionally seen cabooses still being used on the CNR lines near me. I think I've seen 2-2 at the most during the past 5 years! I believe they are still used during lengthy track repairs. Still really enjoy seeing them! Rob

i know that cabooses are still being used at the kiski junction railroad. they offer a great place to stay out of the weather and stay warm while switching or doing other tasks.



todd

Some communities, and cities still require railroads to have a caboose when going through town. A lot of them have welded up windows and doors, cause the ordinances doesen't require the caboose to be manned, only be on the end of the train.

But, I think even that is going the way of the Do-Do.

There are some places where the RR uses a caboose for long backup moves. The last few I saw on CN had their windows covered over as if the crew member was expected to be on the platform or just inside the door.

You also have to remember Josh is that MSN and Google maps aren't really updated a lot, on Live Search they are places around me that are still a year or two old

tomustang Wrote:You also have to remember Josh is that MSN and Google maps aren't really updated a lot, on Live Search they are places around me that are still a year or two old

Actually, I have found that Google, MSN, and Live Search, all use the same image.
Well. for my area anyway.

tomustang Wrote:You also have to remember Josh is that MSN and Google maps aren't really updated a lot, on Live Search they are places around me that are still a year or two old

Google satellite images for my area are pretty recent. The one of my house currently shows the contractor's van parked outside my house - our renos were done last summer...

Andrew

Its interesting to hear the other places cabooses have been spotted, thanks for sharing guys

tomustang Wrote:You also have to remember Josh is that MSN and Google maps aren't really updated a lot, on Live Search they are places around me that are still a year or two old

eightyeightfan1 Wrote:Actually, I have found that Google, MSN, and Live Search, all use the same image.
Well. for my area anyway.

Yeah, sometimes if you turn a different angle, you will get a totally different picture, with new trains, trucks, traffic..... Its kinda weird and confusing sometimes lol

Ive noticed that all 3 of those are pretty much the same, just Live Search has the highest quality of picture. All 3 have basically the same picture, and i havnt not noticed any major differences when comparing the 3 with the same scene other than the new trains, trucks, and traffic between positions and programs.... All 3 are very useful to me