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Caboose Use for Local Trains General discussion
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Prolific poster 1,719 posts musgrovejb Prolific poster 1,719 posts
musgrovejb
Modeling a Missouri Pacific switching layout set in the early to mid 1980's . Looking for links, documentation, and information on the use and operations of cabooses assigned to local freights. Information on caboose handling during switching operations would be especially helpful.

Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENIMVXBDQCrKbhMvsed6kBC8p40GwtxQ

 
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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,833 posts
David Husman dave1905

MP cabs

The MP used a variety of cabooses on locals every thing from the Sedalia cabs to ex-Rock bay window cabooses to the short bay window cabs to the really short transfer cabs. Just depends on the job. They hated using the UP cupola cabs with the "express" trucks, they tended to go off center if struck too hard.

Dave Husman

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redP Frequent poster 567 posts
redP

reduced crew

With the reduced crew provision of 1985. Cabooses are not needed anymore. Locals tend to to use them as shoving platforms unless there is a runaround track. I run a local on the NS, but we dont use a caboose. We have a runaround track at the end of our run so its not needed. We do keep a caboose in the yard. Occasionally we have to shove out to a grain elevator, in which case we take it with us.

 Modeling Penn Central and early Amtrak in the summer of 1972

 
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CandOfan Prolific poster 1,536 posts
CandOfan

Still a few NS cabeeese...

There are still a few state laws that require cabeese. I live in central Virginia, and on the nearby line local freights are still legally required to run a caboose. Through freights on this line have freds as usual. I don't know precisely what requirement is being mandated, and it's certainly not common - I've only seen it on this line, despite living deep in NS territory for most of the last 30 years.

Modeling the C&O in Virginia in 1943, 1927 and 1918
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