RR Caboose?

[Ωhm]

Why am I seeing cabooses on the back end of trains again? It seems years ago they got rid of the caboose. Nationwide I'm in SE MI if that has anything to do with this. Anyways, is it the return of the caboose, I missed them, I liked to wave at them guys/gals.

[Pete M]

interesting.  since I can't fathom the companies spending the dough just for the cool factor, I'd guess they are being used as accommodations? 

[eaglescout526]

Lol they all can afford that cool factor but it’s probably nostalgia as well and most are getting trashed and graffitied just sitting in a yard or abandoned. 

[derf]

They haven't needed a caboose in a train for a long time.  All they really need is an end of train device that at most has some electronics and a pressure sensor for the air line.

 

Railroads really don't like spending a single penny they don't absolutely have to so there has to be some other compelling reason for them to be toting an extra car along with the rest of the train.

[MiNi Beast]

choo choo goes toot toot

[89 MJ]

[Ωhm]

Found this on the WEB. Don't know the difference between mainline trains and yard switching trains.

 

Do any railroads still use cabooses?
So, do railroads still use cabooses? Yes. Cabooses are no longer used on mainline trains, however, they are still used during yard switching. In the early eighties, the caboose was replaced with a device called the end of train device (EOT; see derf link) on mainline trains.

Do Trains Still Use Cabooses? | Worldwide Rails

[eaglescout526]

Switchers are generally small engines that will move loads or cars from one line to another so that way they don’t have to waste the time and energy to put a big engine on a turntable to have it shunt cars around. Makes sense they use cabooses there. 

[BeatCJ]

EOT?

I know several train people, they all call them FRED. F@$& rear end device.