Cabooses
Prototype Information
Railroads began using cabooses in the 1830s to house crews on long freight runs. These cars served as rolling offices where conductors handled waybills and recorded train movements. The cupola, a small cabin perched on the roof, allowed brakemen to spot smoke from overheating wheel bearings or dragging equipment. Most cabooses also included basic amenities like bunk beds and coal stoves for cooking and heating.
Technological shifts in the 1980s quickly ended the era of the caboose. The invention of the End-of-Train device (EOT) replaced the need for rear-end crew members by electronically monitoring brake pressure and movement. Improved reliability in rolling stock and automated trackside scanners also made manual inspections from a cupola unnecessary. Today, most surviving cabooses serve as museum exhibits, though a few remain in use for long backup moves or as specialized shoving platforms.
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Burlington Northern
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Detroit & Toledo Shore Line
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Great Northern
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Gulf Mobile & Ohio
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Illinois Central Gulf
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Norfolk Southern
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Walthers Mainline HO Standard Vision Caboose Northern Pacific
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Chesapeake & Ohio
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Detroit Toledo & Ironton
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Great Northern “Big Sky Blue”
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Northern Pacific “Green”
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Santa Fe
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Walthers Mainline HO Wide Vision Caboose Soo Line
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