THE CABOOSE

October of 1982 the Southern Pacific Railroad Transportation Company donated Caboose No. Sp-443 This caboose came to use from Tucson, AZ with the help of State Senator Kenneth Schlientz

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What were cabooses used for? Each train in the early days was signed a caboose. Cabooses were living quarters and offices all in one for those who worked on the trains.  In the past trips were longer so the crew needed bathrooms and a place to sleep. The workers used the caboose to get on the roof and help control the breaks on the train and flagman walked  along behind the train with a lantern or flag to stop another train approaching on the same track.