MODEL / CLASS	YEAR BUILT	ROAD NUMBERS
'PM' & 'C&O' 300 series wood caboose	1880	....
'C&O' wood caboose class K3-1	1916 to 1917	90401-90540
'C&O' wood caboose class K3-2	1924	90657-90680
'C&O' 30' 4-window wooden cupola caboose	11-1924	90700-90799
'C&O' 30' 6-window wooden cupola caboose	11-1924	90700-90799
'C&O' wood sheated caboose	1929	90900-91024
'C&O' steel caboose - first all-steel caboose on the C&O	1937	90000-90049
'C&O' steel caboose - C&O's first standard type of steel cabooses	1949	90200-90299
'C&O' International Car Co. wide-vision steel caboose	1969 to ……	3100-3259
NKP wood caboose # 0800 series - (ex. W&LE 0826-0918 series)	1914 to 1937	826-918
NKP wood caboose # 1252-1281 series - (ex. C&O)	1941 to 1954	1252-1281

Quote from the website hosam.com:

AAR DESIGNATIONS for CABOOSES-1956

In 1982 the United Transportation Union signed an agreement with the rail carriers which would permit the elimination of the caboose in concept. The various states had laws which governed the use of cabooses. One by one the states dropped these laws, permitting the railroads to negotiate with the union, to drop the caboose, on a train by train basis. The last states changed their laws by the late 80's. As has been stated, caboose cars are still in use in certain situations, but for the most part they are gone. United Transportation Union web site

TYPEs:
NM - Caboose mounted on 4 wheels fitted with bunks, stoves, toilet and storage for tools.
NE - Caboose mounted on 8 wheels usually longer than 4 wheel but otherwise the same.


CABOOSE NOTES
The derivation of the word "Caboose" is somewhat vague. Many other words have been used to describe the same type car, Caboose, Waycar, Van, Cabin, Crummy, Hack and many others. In a train the caboose is the one car which earns no revenue, then why was it developed? In early days train movement was controlled by the conductor. This was before any type communications were developed which allowed the dispatcher to communicate with the train. The conductor needed a place to keep flags, lanterns, chains tools etc., to write train reports. The commonly accepted origin was a plain boxcar hooked on the end of a train. Later on a hole was cut in the top to allow the conductor a better view of the train. Bad weather demanded some enclosure so was born the "Cupola". Cabooses have been made of Wood and Steel or combinations of both.

CABOOSES USEAGE

ROAD CABOOSE-assigned to operate on any part of the system YARD CABOOSE-assigned to large yards or yard to on line industries requiring flagmen. TRANSFER CABOOSE-assigned for runs between different yards in large metropolitan areas or runs between exchange points of different roads. LOCAL CABOOSE-assigned to the local freight, or one train on a regular basis. POOL CABOOSE-assigned to certain divisions or particular thru freights usually on large Class 1 roads.

CABOOSE TYPES

CUPOLA-First appeared on the Chicago & Northwestern around 1863. has a small structure on the roof with windows on sides, front and rear for the conductor to observe the train. Can be centered, toward either end or at the end of the roof. BAY WINDOW-First introduced in 1923. has a section which extends out from the body on both sides with windows on sides, front and rear. Can be centered or toward the end. TRANSFER-Origins of these have been lost in time. Many were "homemade" by the roads themselves in a variety of styles. some have bay windows, some look like a shortened boxcar built on a flatcar, others are short and minus either a cupola or bay windows. EXTRA WIDE VISION-first introduced in 1942 by the Missouri Pacific #970-999. These were wood and had both cupola and bay windows. Several were built for the Reserve Mining in the 50's, possibly 5 or so. Some are preserved today. EXTENDED CUPOLA introduced by the International Car Company in early 60's These have since become known as EXTENDED VISION or WIDE VISION Has a "cupola" which extends over the sides to give a additional vision to the conductor.

CABOOSE MANUFACTURERS

AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY
BETHLEHEM STEEL
DARBY CORPORATION DESPATCH SHOPS of THE NYC
GENERAL STANDARD CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL CAR & EQUIPMENT COMPANY
MT. VERNON CAR COMPANY
PACIFIC CAR & FOUNDRY
PENINSULAR CAR COMPANY
ST. CHARLES CAR COMPANY
ST. LOUIS CAR COMpaNY
SOUTHERN IRON & EQUIPMENT COMPANY
THRALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
WHITEHEAD & KALES COMPANY
HAWKER SIDDELEY LIMITED(CANADIAN)
NATIONAL STEEL CAR COMPANY(CANADIAN)

MANY RAILROADS BOUGHT "KITS" FROM THESE MANUFACTURERS AND BUILT THEIR OWN. SOME BUILT THEIR OWN FROM OLDER BOXCARS. SOME ROADS MODIFIED OLDER CABOOSES BY ADDING PLYWOOD SHEATHING, EXTENDED CUPOLAS AND BLANKING WINDOWS.

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last update : 2017-01-21