We used to have a few around here that were all welded shut so the only part accessible was the platforms. Now they're all gone and replaced by the converted flatcars you see in jpwisc's photo above. Cabooses weigh about 40,000 lbs. if I remember correctly, which is enough heft that you can shove them with some air set and the wheels won't slide. That's in contrast to the shove platforms made from flatcars which will slide with a half-hearted handbrake or a minimum set. As a consequence, the wheels on those things become covered in flat spots in no time and are very difficult to use at speeds above 10 mph because of the noise. We also have a local agreement in effect here that allows for a penalty claim when making a movement that would have required a caboose in years past. When you have to hang onto a car for a shove of a mile or more and a caboose would have been available to avoid hanging onto the car prior to the cabooses being eliminated, you are entitled to a penalty claim. If it's a lumber car or a tank car, I'd rather have the caboose than the money.
OMG, is this still around today?? I saw this when it was freshly repainted in Everett, Wa back in 1991!!
Kurt - the crews here are right proud of that caboose! It gets used primarily up the Circle/Redwater branch for the multiple customers on the line.
Orillia. Yup. OK. I know do where that is- Just a few blocks east of the Hydroplane & Race Boat Museum. Ha ha.
The Portland & Western has a few cabooses that are used for long reverse moves. Here's a former SP Bay Window in P&W paint
NS has (or at least had) this one stationed at Nitro, WV ... I believe in MOW service... P110258 by Mark, on Flickr CSX has had this one at South Charleston, WV for quite a while... not a recent picture but it was still there last week. They use it as a buffer car for hazmat moves in the yard there. I'm not aware of any long reverse shoves done from there, but I suppose it's possible. CSXT 900080 by Mark, on Flickr
The last 2 months that I have passed Parachute CO there have been bo cars in the yard only the Caboose. The number of covered hoppers and tank cars has been twindling this past 6 months but now none. My guess is the low oil prices have made these fields much less desirable to drill and operate, although the gas wells are still operating but no new drilling activity. Furthermore, there are bunched of drill rig and support equipment sitting idle and the Halliburton shop in Grand Junction has only about 15-20% of autos in the parking lots. Additionally, coal traffic is way down with 2 of the 3 mines closed in the north Fork of the Gunnison valley closed necessitating much fewer trains. very tough times for employees and their families.
BN 12622 still in use in work train service at Kanasket, Wa on the old NP. Typical rainy day in Western Washington......
