The Caboose

The caboose is an American railroad legend and was once found trailing behind the cars of a train. Use of the caboose began in the early 1830's. The purpose of the caboose was to provide shelter for the conductor, brakemen, and flagmen on board the train. While in the caboose the crew would fill out paperwork, observe the train for any hazards or malfunctions, cook meals, and sleep. Eventually with the dawn of new inventions and labor laws the caboose was no longer needed., Centennial Caboose , The caboose in front of you, #14327, began working on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Route which had tracks throughout the Midwest. This particular caboose, called a waycar by the Railroads, was built in 1890 and was retired in the 1960's after serving both on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Route and later on the Fort Worth and Denver Route. Waycar #14327 was donated to the Las Cruces Railroad Museum by the Acrey family who lived in it while they built their ranch house. The caboose was originally mineral red in color which contradicts the popular perception that all cabooses were bright red., Fun Fact: , Even though conductors often considered the caboose to be their home away from home, it was often called names such as crummy, hack, dog house, and waycar., Captions , CB&Q Waycar #14331, circa 1900, Courtesy Joseph R. Douda Collection , Las Cruces, NM, Nov. 1988. A father and son watch a westbound freight train William P. Diven , Photographer Jack Delano, Library of Congress Collection , Photographer Jack Delano, Library of Congress Collection