Comments on: CN 7049, an EMD GP9RM built in 1957, is headed east and approaching Hope with Caboose 79873 at Cheam View, on CN’s Yale Sub. Not sure of exactly when but, Caboose 79873 was put out to pasture at the Woodlands and Meadows Perennial Nursery & Gardens in Princeport, Nova Scotia. GPS is approximate.

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 18:49:09 +0000

I never would have thought that such a short train could generate so much interest, and information. Thanks to you all.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 16:16:55 +0000

@Brad and Joe. When most railroads started to replace steam and order diesels they had F type units at first. When the “road switcher” type units were ordered they were pretty much all ordered with the long hood as forward. The reasoning I was told was because of added safety for train crews in the event of an accident. Steam engines had that long boiler ahead of the crews in the cab to give them some added metal in front of them. This type of protection was mostly for grade crossing incidents as there were far more level and unprotected crossings back in the 50′s. I am sure head on collisions did not afford much protection for steam or diesels, but the practice when ordering new road switcher engines was long hood forward. Some companies like NW, and Southern RR had units with dual controls for the engineer and this practice continued right into the second generation units like SD45 and C30-7. CN/VIA RS18′s were also equipped with dual controls.
When it came down to rebuilds on CN, they chopped the nose for better visibility on the 4000/4100 class units. The 7200/7000 class got chopped as well, but at the time they were assigned to yard service where visibility was not essential so they were set up to run as long hood as the front of the unit.
Take it from a guy that has sometimes run GP9′s, RS18′s C40-8/M’s SD70/75′s and right up to EVOS’s with the long hood leading.
Short hood forward is way more comfortable and for me, it feels safer.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 15:54:21 +0000

Love the input from this thread guys!
Sounds like “van” is a east term. I am not sure how far east? From the day i hired on in 1981 until they disappeared, we always used the word van. Mac Yrd had a two track “van” siding where the caboose’s were serviced. Oh Canada!!

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 15:07:11 +0000

I believe the noses were chopped to improve visibility.

By: BradKetchen

BradKetchen — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 12:35:04 +0000

Very nice thread from your photo @Joe Harrison. Some good knowledge here. @ngineered4u interesting about the old boxcar use..Wonder why the States didn’t ‘couple’ on to the build?

I didn’t know GP9RM’s were intentionally run long nose first? Sounds like a Norfolk Southern practice. And in that case, why did they chop the noses in first place?

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 02:30:42 +0000

Thanks for your input Steve. Good stuff! Just to add … I also found that the word caboose is derived from the Dutch word “Kombuis” which translates to “ships galley”. Food / shelter and a great place to hang out when off duty and away from home.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 00:07:17 +0000

There’s a neat article in the 1991 January Branchline: “On the Origins of Cabooses in Canada” by Omer Lavallee starting on page 16 of this:

https://bytownrailwaysociety.ca/phocadownload/branchline/1991/1991-01.pdf

google search: van caboose site:bytownrailwaysociety.ca

Page 17 has a good paragraph on the continued use of the word “van” especially by CP Rail crew.

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 23:59:22 +0000

If I may,

http://trn.trains.com/railroads/railroad-history/2006/05/the-colorful-caboose

“Railroaders affectionately called their cabooses by many nicknames, including cabin, crummy, buggy, doghouse, waycar, shack, and hack. On the Pennsylvania Railroad, the caboose was a cabin or “cabin car.” The Burlington, C&NW, and other roads used the term waycar. Canadian cabooses were called “vans,” a word similar to “brake van,” used in England to describe railroad cars that performed a similar function to a caboose.”

http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cpr_rolling/vans.html

http://www.truelinetrains.ca/freight-cars/cabooses

“Canadians call their cabooses vans. Or so I’m told. John Riddell states that CP preferred the word caboose, but even the 1985 CP Rail Equipment roster used the word ‘van.’ But we’re going to use Van just to confuse those not from the Great White North”

I’m not sure if any Canadian publication (Branchline?) (UCRS Newsletter?) (CHRA?) has ever done an article on van/caboose nomenclature. Anyone know?

By: David Thompson

David Thompson — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:23:34 +0000

I’m with Robin. For the time that I worked there, plus the friends that I knew that worked for CN, until retirement, in Kamloops & Vancouver, Cab or Caboose was the term used. Run over to the Cab track and stick one on track 65, a typical call from the West Tower yardmaster. We are Canadian, pretty sure there are acceptable differences across the country.

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:04:30 +0000

I agree. Caboose is all I’ve ever known. It has an interesting history as well.