You still using the Caboose?

[DonR]

I've got a caboose track full of 'em...

By default my layout is sorta the 50s as a result of
a major bargain from that well known hobby shop...Craigslist.

A buddy of mine rode shotgun in one of those FEC rail
guard cars...I think they were stations wagons...he said
the car did not lower the crossing gates...so they had to
run not that far ahead of the following loco that would.
They, of course had to run at the train speed.
Else they would be barreling thru skillions
of crossings in every city on Florida's east coast
with vehicles using them...the
tracks went right through the middle of every town.

Don

[wingnut163]

i have heard that there are now a devise that is put on the llast car's coupler that blinks to tell all that its the last car.
dont know if that is true.

[gunrunnerjohn]

FRED - Flashing rear-end device

It also monitors stuff like brake line pressure and communicates with the cab.

[broox]

Originally Posted by norgale

I can see where the caboose went but what would take the place of the box car? Pete

Over here theres not many boxcars. Its all intermodal.

I would say only between 1-5% of the consists are boxcars (the 5 is being very generous!) I got excited the other day because I saw some being run, and that was just a couple of Sadleirs cars ahead of 50+ containers, haha.

There is one mob that run almost exclusive boxcar stock, and thats SCT but they have moved to newer facilities further north from the city so I rarely see them these days.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I still see boxcars running around here a lot. Just sat at a crossing where a really large freight tied up the road for at least 10 minutes, boxcars and tankcars a'plenty.

[broox]

Just went over a bridge and saw the SCT train... all boxcars. bahahaha.

Just to test a hypothesis:
I hardly ever see a million dollars in my wallet.

[raleets]

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn

I still see boxcars running around here a lot. Just sat at a crossing where a really large freight tied up the road for at least 10 minutes, boxcars and tankcars a'plenty.

"Only" 10 minutes? That's almost a "quickie" here in Flint, MI, where a typical freight running through town has 190 to 230 cars. How do I know that? My wife is a car-counter par excellance.
I jokingly tell people I keep a spare ham sandwich in the glovebox for those times I get stuck by a slow moving freight.

[10wheeler]

I love cabooses and 40 foot box cars! To me trains without cabeeses are BORING! I also love steam engines; however, am getting tired of their constant maintenence. All locomotives take maintenence; but, after 45 years of being a steam nut, I am considering changing my focus to more first generation diesels.

We all have our likes, care lesses and dislikes. We're entitled to them, it's part of the fun!

[union pacific 844]

i run a caboose with my diesels and steamers i love caboose

[jjb727]

i dont see gondolas very much...