Why don't freight trains have cabooses anymore?

Question

Why don't freight trains have cabooses anymore?

Answer 1

In Australia our Government owned transport systems lost Conductors & Guards. Politicians claimed we didn't need them as machines are better than humans. Then they reprivatised our Rail Systems (train & tram). So to a Private Operator it was more cost efficient. Short answer, no Guard no Guardsvan (Caboose).

Answer 2

we got rid of them in Canada years ago for all our trains , the tracks and trains are wired to monitor the train for wheel bearing temp. etc. progress.

Answer 3

The railways decided years ago to phase out cabooses as a cost saving procedure. They got the governments of USA and Canada to change the rules. Also they got the AAR, American Association of Railroads to change the safety rules. The railroads operated with a fixed set of rules  called Uniform Code of Operating Rules and to use these rules it called for a Locomotive Engineer and a Trainman in the locomotive and a 2 man crew in the Caboose. In the event of a derailment or breakdown it was the responsibility of the Rearend brakeman to walk back to warn any oncoming trains of the problem. The same at the Head end. With the advent of double tracks, radios and better signals the necessity of Trainmen was no longer needed. Except in Wayfreight conditions where the train crew needed a place to eat and sleep while on the road. During my last 9 years as a Trainman I had the same caboose (we called it a Van) and I considered it my second home. Its too bad that there are fewer and fewer but its progress.

Answer 4

Once again the "budge" has beaten me to the punch.

One thing often overlooked is the safety aspects of handling an occupied caboose.  They were an injury just waiting to happen, usually because of severe slack action.  They are the only equipment I've ever been on that had seat belts.

Though some engineers were less than proficient with their train handling, it was the UDE "undesired emergency" application of the brakes that would paste the rear end crew against the caboose bulkheads or even dislodge the oil stove from its mounts.

Initially, the early telemetry devices were not two way, and as a result, the engineer had no way to initiate an emergency application of the brakes, if needed.  (Note:  Check out my 360 blog and there you will find a "RailTail" dealing with just this eventuality that occurred to me some 11 years ago.)

All in all, at this point in time, I don't think there are many who miss them.

Answer 5

Many years ago, I was asked, why don't trains in other countries have cabosses?

I replied the better question was why does only the US have them.

The US has for the most part, longer trains than the rest of the world.  Until technology provided, the eyes and ears were needed back there to monitor the train and legs to find something wrong.

Answer 6

They have them in Texas.

Answer 7

Quite simply, technology rendered them obsolete.

Cabooses were used for easy exit from the train for switching tracks (or switching back once through) and also used for inspecting potential problems occurring in other cars on the train (load shifting, broken equipment, etc).

Technology has developed to allow trains to switch tracks through computers, and computerized monitoring equipment has rendered visual observation of cars obsolete.

Answer 8

Good question and wish i knew the answer as i have been wondering the same. When i was a child the conductor riding the caboose would toss us kids candy. We would get so excited to hear the train coming. That is one of my fondest memories. Will keep watch on this question as i would like to know also. Thank you for asking.

Answer 9

It Comes down to money the rail company's eliminated the jobs of the rear conductor and brakeman therefor there was no need for a caboose any longer u still see a few around mostly police cabooses

Answer 10

because all the big booty girls stole them

(get it? caboose = big booty)

Answer 11

Cabooses disappeared largely as a cost saving move.  Train crews used to be five people, but over time it was reduced, little by little, until the current total of two or three (depends on the assignment).

In place of the caboose, wayside inspection systems are placed every so often on the main line, and scan the train for various potential defects, such as hot wheels, overheated bearings, dragging equipment, and shifted loads.

There's also the EOT (End-of-train) device that is mounted on the last car of the train.  EOT's use radio waves to communicate information to the IDU (Input-Display Unit) located on the engineer's control stand.  The engineer is able to monitor brake pipe pressure, throw the train into emergency from the tail end, and detect motion in the rear of the train.

DMD's (Distance measuring device) are NOT part of the EOT, but they are included in the IDU.  The DMD's function totally separate from any device on the last car.

Some road switchers, yard assignments, and short lines still use cabooses, for several reasons.  Short lines use them a lot of times because it's less expensive than having a working EOT system (technology doesn't come cheap for smaller companies).  Cabooses are also used for frequent shoving moves (backing up the train), to save crew members riding the side of railcars for long distances at high speeds.

Answer 12

They still have a "Caboose"...except it's called an End-of-Train Device (or E.O.T.)

It's a box with a flashing red light, either battery or air-powered, and it's clamped on the last car's drawhead (or coupler).

It is attached to the air line of the train...the engineer can use the EOT to calculate how long the train actually is, and the EOT can warn the locomotive that there was a separation while enroute, and the crew can see how much air pressure is reaching the rear of the train.

Old cabooses are still used on railroads, usually by train crews who do "local" train service.  Some short-line railroads still use cabooses full-time.