As I was doing the Slippy Descent scenario today and passing the duo of cabeese in Hyndman, a thought came to my mind. I stopped and checked both of them and the models seem rather good, although both cars are missing interior. Still, a lot of work had to go into these and as much as cabeese are more than rare to spot on rails nowadays, it would be nice to be able to use some on SPG. What if instead of rather easy community challenge with not very useful wallpaper rewards we'd be given a truly hard challenge to complete and for that a usable caboose for just a couple of services on SPG. (E.g. 1 service putting a caboose on a manifest in Cumberland, one westbound run, one eastbound and 1 service putting the caboose back). It would definitely take some work to get these cars functional, but it would be a very interesting addition and a true prize for a community challenge (+we could put hundreds of liveries on it). And I bet many people would at least once take a relaxing ride at the end of the train over the summit sitting in the top cupola.
So make the Caboose something we can/have unlock to get to use? Can't say that I am a fan of that idea. Yes I'd love to get to ride in them, and I can see how they could even be used in some situations. But making them something to unlock form a challenge seams kinda dumb. Id rather seen things that don't effect the over all game play as unshockable. (in game avatar items, forum badges, etc)
Considering there was a loco standing in for a caboose at Shaw Mine, which was actually used in services there, and has recently been removed as people were mistaking it for a loco (how strange), there is a legitimate use for a caboose on the route. I don’t know why they couldn’t have made a caboose for it, either originally or during the remake. If they never made one then, I don’t see them making one now for a challenge prize.
I suppose because cabooses aren't really used anymore? Which of course is a shame, because I really love the look of them, but it's realistic, as pretty much no railway uses them anymore, from what I know.
They are still used on most railroads. Mostly as shoving platforms as its cheaper to refurbish a caboose than it is to build a special car for shoves. Quick google search brings up the attached image. In the situation the crew has to make a long back up move. The conductor could hang off the side of a car, but there is a risk they might fatigue and/or fall on long moves. So a caboose is put on the train to the conductor has a safer place to stand. And the added roof keeps the crew dry in the rain and the sun off them in the summer. They often have an head light and air horn added to them for grade crossings. But they often don't have any interiors. Some railroads board up most if not all of the windows so there is no glass to break. And since the crews are only using the porches they have no need to go inside.
I know Union Pacific keeps one in their yard nearby, but they don't use it, I think BNSF has one too, but I've only seen it from a distance. Outside of shoving platforms, some are used as guard wagons, such as the DODX's, for special moves, but these are very rare. They are also used on oversized moves such as with Schnabel Wagons.
