11-11-2009, 02:02 PM
Cabooses are still used "sporadically". They're still used on locals requiring long backup moves, but that's about all.
In the US, cabooses were required on all trains up to about 1985. Some of the eastern states required them a few years longer. In Canada, cabooses were required until 1989 (?), and seem to have still been common for a few years afterward. In Mexico, I believe they were required until the late 90s.
I'm not so well versed on earlier eras, but steel cabooses were common by the 1940s-50s "transition era". By 1980, wood cabooses were rare, with only a few major roads still having any. KCS is the only road I know of to have had wood cabooses to the end of caboose laws.
In the US, cabooses were required on all trains up to about 1985. Some of the eastern states required them a few years longer. In Canada, cabooses were required until 1989 (?), and seem to have still been common for a few years afterward. In Mexico, I believe they were required until the late 90s.
I'm not so well versed on earlier eras, but steel cabooses were common by the 1940s-50s "transition era". By 1980, wood cabooses were rare, with only a few major roads still having any. KCS is the only road I know of to have had wood cabooses to the end of caboose laws.
Fan of late and early Conrail... also 40s-50s PRR, 70s ATSF, BN and SP, 70s-80s eastern CN, pre-merger-era UP, heavy electric operations in general, dieselized narrow gauge, era 3/4 DB and DR, EFVM and Brazilian railroads in general... too many to list!