Pseudo Random collection of road side cars and oddities

[abscate]

A thread repository of things you see driving around that provoke Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

[abscate]

Kicking it off with a few ...I’ve always wondered how trains end up in backyards

[abscate]

Port Jeff line up

A BMWanker
A Tossler
and a Plonker

[abscate]

I’ve always wondered how railroad equipment ends up in peoples yards…..

Also spotted Osprey on Route 89 between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes

[abscate]

Giant Beaver….damn!

[volvolugnut]

I’ve always wondered how railroad equipment ends up in peoples yards…..

One of my other hobbies is helping with a local museum for display of a 1910 Rock Island Railroad ALCO steam locomotive. The museum also has a 1981 Missouri Pacific Railroad caboose. I have spend many hours as a tour guide for visitors of this small museum. I have learned about the history of the caboose.
The caboose originated as the place to ride for the train crew not in the locomotive. This would typically be the conductor, and one or two brakemen. Their jobs were originally to set brakes manually for each car and couple and decouple cars when they were left at towns along the route. The brakemen also made repairs to the train while on the route. The conductor was the foreman of the train crew and also had authority over the engineer except for operation of the locomotive.
Over time the trains had air brakes controlled from the locomotive and the brakemen did not have to set brakes. The number of repairs also were reduced as track and rolling stock improved.
The strength of the railroad unions kept the train crews the same number until the 1980s. At that time the interstate highways were near completion and trucks were great competition for the railroads. Many railroads failed or combined with other railroads. Pressure on the unions to maintain some jobs instead of all jobs lead to agreement to reduce the size of train crews.
As the train crew was reduced, the need for the caboose was eliminated. An electronic end of train device was also available to replace the caboose.
During the 1980s most railroads eliminated their caboose from normal train usage. Many of the unused caboose were sold and became diners, apartments, storage buildings, and other innovative uses.

volvolugnut