The few summer birds who have return may want to book a trip south again with all the colder temperatures and snow in the forecast. But they wouldn’t likely be able to hitch a ride on a caboose as most of them have been put out to pasture. Until the 1980s, a caboose was required on all freight trains in the United States but technology changes reduced the number of crew needed on a train and eliminated need for a caboose. Use of cabooses began in the 1830s, which sheltered the train crew, provided a sleeping area on long trips and was the office area for the conductor. The crew could exit the caboose to switch the tracks and watch for shifting loads or maintenance issues. The most common caboose form had a cupola where a crew member could sit an an elevated seat to inspect the train from the higher perch.
Cupola Caboose
