Glad to see a "modern" modeler find a use for the caboose. Being retired for some time and having worked for the Road back in the early 60's, my problem was solved - - I model the 1930's, 40's and early 50's. . . .LOL!

Neat idea. Might even work with a "kitbashed" platform extension to give some room to stand comfortably upon. . .or maybe a high stool to sit on. . . .then there's a place for the BBQ grill for those long shoves. . .Hmmmmmm - just kidding.

The "San Jac" is the local train that runs from Corona, Ca to San Jacinto and back.  The locomotive and caboose are kept tied up at a small yard in Corona, Ca near the 91 freeway and I-15 freeway interchange.  The route is about 10 miles East on the BNSF mainline and then on to the San Jacinto branch up Box Springs grade to a higher plateau in the area around Moreno Valley, San Jacinto, and Hemet.  There is a lot of farming as well as large warehouses up in that area, but no place to turn the train or run around apparently.  The locomotives are on the rear going from Corona to San Jacinto, and then when the work is done and the train returns, the locomotives are on the point and the caboose in the back.

Over here in the northeast we have the Providence & Worcester (PW) which runs a lot of double-ended power, especially when over the NEC.  Some of the time, two crews accompany the train to facilitate switching ops but that's a lot of additional expense! The PW also has its own caboose which I do believe they use in a similar fashion when a) power isn't available or b) it's a short train and two units would be overkill.  But I'm not positive - perhaps a PW guy could shed some light on that?

I'll be modeling double-ended power for no other reason than it's unique to my region but now I'm considering throwing a caboose in the mix for those long shoves!

-Johnny

That mining railroads would use a caboose as a "shove car" to position hoppers under the tipple.  This was supposedly being done after the caboose had pretty much disappeared from normal service otherwise. Unfortunately it's just something stuck in my memory, I can't cite a source but maybe someone else knows for sure.

Michael

I just watched a CN GP9 pushing four flatcars and a caboose near Hawkesbury Ontario this afternoon. The Ontario Southland/Guelph Junctin Railway also used to use a caboose to shove through town, but it has been out of service for brake issues for a few years now. The other local railway through Guelph, the Goderich Exeter Railway also has a former CN caboose that occasionally gets used for long shoving movements.

Ah, yes, what we once knew as the caboose, cabin, crummy, waycar, etc. is now referred by the prototype as the unglamorous "shoving platform." No matter, it's still the same car - although some roads have welded the doors shut, limiting the crew member's access to the end platforms only (for safety and cost reasons). Most have had the electrical, heating, plumbing and other comfort items removed anyway.

My chosen prototype - UP - still uses ex-C&NW waycars in former North Western territory as shoving platforms when the backing move is longer than a crewman could reasonably be expected to hang on to a rear car. It's largely a safety issue, especially when crossing public roads at grade - the conductor can have his hand on the brake valve, and in some cases the venerable caboose whistle. Either is essential should an errant motorist attempt to play "beat the train."

So, besides a small fleet of various UP four-axle road switchers I have three of Walther's Platinum Line CNW bay window cars for use on the layout. I'd like to equip them with Ring Engineering FREDs - just as the prototype - but the owner has yet to release one with caboose trucks (although he's considering it, sort of). In the meantime perhaps I'll just have to hang a flag off the rear coupler - or, in the case of the Milwaukee Terminal, put an orange traffic cone on the rear platform (yes, I have a photo of that).

I'm also a fan of the BN and have see much the same operation on their lines - although most former-BN cars are International Wide Visions. However, just last year I saw a MOW train run through my family's hometown in N. Central South Dakota on the old MILW Pacific Extension mainline - with a BN bay window much like Walther's version. I now have three of those in Cascade Green as well. Interchange with the UP, perhaps? Got to keep your options open, you know. ;)

Lucky for me, my favorite caboose type (those bay window cabooses) comes available in a nice Sante Fe paint scheme.  Works well with my old, patched BN units.  Come to find out, the caboose I purchased at my local hobby shop just so happened to be assigned to a yard in East Peoria IL in the 80s.  That's my home town!  This caboose was in operation at the same time as I was riding my bike around the neighborhood!

In my freelance world, BN acquired the caboose during the merger and then promptly sold it to the MFTR where it is still being used as a shoving platform today!

Here is a cool video of a "shoving platform" in action

Just about every day in Roanoke VA, NS has a local that comes back to the yard caboose first.

You can watch a live web cam @ http://128.173.197.94:443/RRCmov

Joe

   As part of the original lease agreement for my Lake Superior & Southern, the CFO & property manager (Wife) stated that Caboose service was mandatory, and I had to have a lighthouse(also the ancient Thomas the Tank she had for the nieces and nephews had to tun but that's another issue). Fortunately Ashland WI had a light in the harbor. But if anybody gets nitpicky, I just point at the boss and say she's the reason I have all the crummies running ;-)

  It's still great to see a Caboose running on a class one or shortline, and I take pictures of them whenever I can, BNSF used to have a couple sitting in San Antonio, I wonder if they are still there. I haven't been down there in a few years.

Patrick Sullivan

COO, chief cook bottle washer, gandyman, and husband to the CFO

Lake Superior Southern RR

Even though I too, model the now period, I was thinking about the same issue.  My wife on one hand reminding me that the caboose is not ran any more since they took them off, I of course told her that, but then again, I may model the modern era for today's railway, I am also freelance...so since my rail crews brought up the issues and the valid reasons to have them, B & B Railways, has implemented that they be placed back into service...so on my layout, you will see them from freight, to local runs and mow