Caboose

trains · railroad workers · freight trains

End-of-train home. A caboose is a crewed railroad car coupled at the very end of a freight train, serving as a shelter where train crew members can rest, eat, and work during long journeys.

Lookout station. Workers in the caboose kept watch for problems like cargo shifting, damaged equipment, and overheating axles that could cause serious trouble on the tracks.

Safety and switching. Before modern signaling systems, caboose crew were required to protect the rear of the train and help with switching and shunting, which are the careful movements of coupling and uncoupling train cars.