Quote:
Originally Posted by Eff-1
Hey ritchie rich. Random question for you. I was at the Burnaby Central Park railway today and it hit me. Why don't trains these days have a caboose anymore?
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they dont need it anymore. There's an automatic braking system that is radio controlled attached to the end of all trains (this red thing below)
The old cabooses had a signalmen who sat in the caboose, and when the train uses the air brakes, the caboose guy would release the pressure from that end which would apply the brakes from the rear --> head thus speeding up the air braking. Likewise when the brakes are releasing, the caboose guy would release and thus charge back up the air brakes.
Now it's all automatic through this ABU thing. Eliminating a good job, a hiding place, a haven of drinking beer, eating chicken and all sorts of fun stuff.
Sniff sniff I miss being a conductor a lot... should have never left.