06-10-2009, 10:15 AM
Cabooses was used for many things besides the crew..
It was a place to store tools,extra lantern batteries,chains,rerailer,do paper work etc..It was a handy storage area as well.
The real reason railroads dump the caboose was job elimination from brakeman to service track laborers that clean and service the caboose PLUS the elimination of a yard crew that added or removed cabooses and switch the caboose track.
As far as what constitutes a train.
A light engine movement on the main/branch line with or without a caboose or markers is a train.
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Puddlejumper wrote:Also if you have a 5-6 person crew you need that hack even just to pick up 4 boxcars 3 miles away. Not enough room in the cab for 5-6 people.
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On the contrary..I seen 5 men ride the cab of a SW7...2 was seated and 3 was standing.We left our train at the urban industrial branch yard(a whopping 3 track "overflow"yard) while we went up a 5 block branch to pick up 3 cars.
It was a place to store tools,extra lantern batteries,chains,rerailer,do paper work etc..It was a handy storage area as well.
The real reason railroads dump the caboose was job elimination from brakeman to service track laborers that clean and service the caboose PLUS the elimination of a yard crew that added or removed cabooses and switch the caboose track.
As far as what constitutes a train.
A light engine movement on the main/branch line with or without a caboose or markers is a train.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Puddlejumper wrote:Also if you have a 5-6 person crew you need that hack even just to pick up 4 boxcars 3 miles away. Not enough room in the cab for 5-6 people.
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On the contrary..I seen 5 men ride the cab of a SW7...2 was seated and 3 was standing.We left our train at the urban industrial branch yard(a whopping 3 track "overflow"yard) while we went up a 5 block branch to pick up 3 cars.
Larry
Engineman
Summerset Ry
Make Safety your first thought, Not your last! Safety First!
Engineman
Summerset Ry
Make Safety your first thought, Not your last! Safety First!