In what year did the American rail system stop using the caboose? I cannot seem to find this answer anywhere!!

-- Chris Mertens (fernbreath@msn.com), March 19, 2002

Answers

That often depends on which state you are talking about. Once the unions started going along with dispensing with cabs it often came down to whether any state laws required the use of them. Virgina was one of the last ones to drop the requirement and that was about 10 years ago if I remember correctly--Larry

-- Larry Puckett (ljpuckett@starpower.net), March 19, 2002.

Although 'cabeese' are long gone on long haul trains, a number of them are still in service on 'locals'. I see one often in Richmond used by NS crews for local switching duties. (Still in faded old NW lettering.)

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), September 03, 2002.

the union pacific now serves santa barbara. i've not seen any cabooses, i believe they use only electronic devices on the last cars.

-- emmette gatewood (etg.jr@verizon.net), November 06, 2003.