My layout will be loosely modeled somewhere around Ogden UT with some UP,SP, and DRG&W. I want to know when roofwalks and cabooses would have vanished between 1969,1979,1989, and 1999. Thanks, Loco1999
I'm guessing the cabeese vanished around 85 in the place I'm modeling and the roofwalks... well I can't say.
**Ok, I googled this in, and found an answer written by Ken Chick of the NMRA: Roofwalks Outlawed in 1964, but roads were given until 1966 before cars in interchange service had to have them removed. Cars not in interchange service could keep them, and many non-interchange cars (MoW is major example), ran with roofwalks for years after this. It is still possible to see one on very rare occasions. The same rule applied to all roofwalks -- cars and cabooses. [Still allowed on cars with equipment which needs to be reached, e.g. covered hopper hatches.] In 1964, the FRA mandated the removal of running boards (roofwalks) from box cars and reefers. This spelled the end of the dangerous practice of brakemen walking the tops of trains. Railroads were given a 10 year grace period to comply. After 1974, cars with running boards were banned from interchange service. Thousands of cars remained unmodified for years after the deadline. This wasn't a problem as long as the car never left home rails. On occasion, these scofflaws wandered away from home and were caught by vigilant car knockers on other railroads. " **To answer your other question about cabeese, I found the answer on the UP (R) website: Today, the ends of freight trains are monitored by remote radio devices called "End of Train" devices, or EOTs. The small boxes fit over the rear coupler and are coupled into the train's air brake line. The EOT radios information to the engineer regarding the brake pressure at the rear of the train, whether or not the last car is moving, and whether or not the flashing red light is working (activated at night by a sensor). The EOT also allows the engineer to set the air brakes from the rear of the train in case the train breaks in two, thus, in an emergency, setting brakes on both halves of the train. UPRR began using EOT devices in 1984. **So, to answer your question: 1964 for roofwalks and 1984 for cabeese on the UP. Chessie started dropping them about 1984, too, I believe. I still miss them.
Cabooses are still in use today. July 2004: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=67940 U.P. began using EOT devices in 1984: http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/caboose/caboo02.shtml [ 06. January 2005, 16:47: Message edited by: N&W ]
To say 1964 for roofwalks is a bit misleading IMHO. Boxcars with roofwalks (running boards) could not be made after 1966. However, as pointed out (correctly) above, a grace period until 1974 was available and widely taken advantage of. In reality roofwalks became really scarce in the mid 1970s. At least through the early 1970's it was common to see them in any freight train. HTH
I think that line covered the fact that compliance was far from total after the deadline. After all, camelbacks were outlawed in the 1920s, but railroads like the CNJ used them up to the end of steam.
Some do, some don't. There are two types of FREDs, and one type merely has telemetering without the brake control. In a deadly derailment in Cajon Pass, BNSF sent a marked-as-damaged (air line) freight car out on a train. The train's FRED had the air brake equipment, but it was not turned on in order to save battery power. The damaged car was 5 cars back, so the remaining cars brakes could not be activated, killing the engine crew and shutting down the highway for many days. The FRA was really annoyed, since BNSF had stated that they would have the Type 2 FREDs on every train, but BNSF did't *actually* say that they would be turned on! Oh yeah, this also explains the fence at Summit in Cajon Pass. BNSF's Lawyers (OE: li-er) offered that a biker or railfan had tampered with the train. The FRA was not amused, and rejected the ploy. There is a toggle switch in the cab to blow the air in the FRED. I got to do it once! Tony Burzio San Diego, CA
These CP box cars with roofwalks are interchanged in a D&H/NJ train circa '78. The unit being leased is former StJ&LC bi-centennial GP9 #2606.
Thanks for all the info. I think I finally get it. I will be modeling 1984-1994 for now. I will have a couple of modern cabeese for fun. My couple of 1950's locos will have pull some too. Thanks, Loco1999
