Cabooses

[beevee]

Just a query from across the Atlantic about those who occupy the cabooses on your larger freight companies.

I was having a look in a Model Railroader which had photos of the inside of a caboose which had a toilet, cooker and bunks, which seems to indicate that brakesmen travel quite long distances. Is that correct.

In the days in the UK when we had guards on freight trains they had to sign knowledge of the 'road' and even then very rarely went more than a hundred miles, more likely forty to sixty before they changed over with another man.

Any info out there, it was just a thought thats all, one of those things that I am just interested in finding out.

 

[MilesWestern]

Yes, Cabooses travel LONG distances. Some transcontinental trains traveled 1000+ miles, hopefully with a crew change along the way. The beds, stove, and toilet were for all the days one might spend inside the caboose. Not sure exactly how long they stayed on one though, perhaps there's an "hours of seervice law" for breakmen and conductors?

Not all though, the earlier 'bobber' 2 axle (which is very uncommon in the U.S., and not anymore, it's all 'bogies' as you may call it) traveled less them 100 miles and weren't equipped with beds.