Museums 401: The Caboose (photo diary)

by Ojibwa for Museums

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Sunday, Feb. 09, 2025 Sunday, Feb. 09, 2025 at 7:15:07am PST

The last car on a freight train was known as the caboose. This car served a number of functions. Furnished with bunks, chairs, toilet, sink, stove, and storage space, it was the “home” for the train’s crew. In addition, it was a storehouse for provisions, spare parts, first aid kits, lanterns, and a shop.

The term caboose came into English from nautical terminology. Caboose appears in English in 1747 and refers to “a ship’s cookhouse.” With regard to etymology, it is from the Middle Dutch kambuis meaning “ship’s galley.” Caboose became a part of railroad terminology by 1859.

Shown below are some museum exhibits of the caboose.

Heritage Station Museum, Pendleton, Oregon

The conductor was the “boss” of the train and was responsible for seeing that cars were delivered to the right destinations. The caboose served as the conductor’s office.

According to the Museum display:

“Before the invention of automatic air brakes and electric signals, a brakeman and flagman rode in the caboose. In those days, the engineer signaled the caboose with his whistle when he wanted to slow down or stop. A brakeman would climb out and make his way forward, twisting the brakewheels on top of the cars with a stout club. Another brakeman, riding in the engine, would work his way toward the rear. Once the train was stopped, the flagman would descend from the caboose and walk back to a safe distance with lanterns, flags, and other warning devices to stop any approaching trains.”

The cupola on top of the caboose provided a lookout where the trainmen could watch for smoke from overheated wheel journals (hot boxes) and other signs of trouble. According to the Museum display:

“Their job was to alert the engineer when they spotted problems. Until friction bearings were replaced by roller bearings, the most common problem was overheated hot boxes which could cause derailments. Later, electronic hot boxes were installed along the main lines and could check the moving train more efficiently and reliably than the men could. Technological advances led to the demise of the caboose.”