Just to reactivate an old topic:
A caboose was fitted with red lights called markers to enable the rear of the train to be seen at night. This has led to the phrase bringing up the markers to describe the last car on a train (these lights were officially what made a train a "train"[1])
This comes from the Wikipedia article on the caboose, but note it has a footnote. The footnote is a reference to ATSF operating rules.
Gene
On the CN, two things were necessary before it was a train - markers and authority. You could hang all the markers you wanted on the back of it but it still wasn't a train until a train order was issued. Cabeese on the CN were officially known as "cabin cars" but were referred to by many names, including "crummy."
Quote from: Jim Banner on November 14, 2007, 11:32:20 PM
Cabeese on the CN were officially known as "cabin cars" but were referred to by many names, including "crummy."
Cabeese on the CNR and CPR were known as "vans" at least in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes and cabooses in the west. Never heard a Canadian caboose called a "cabin car". I think "cabin car" was used mainly on the Pennsy?
Check out the Wikipedia article on "caboose." It mentions crummy, cabin car, van, etc. The article suggests that the word "van" came from truncating the English "brake van."
Jim, obviously one needs orders to proceed. One also needs power. I posted this because of the discussion on what constitutes a train.
Gene
Hey Jimbo;
Something about the Central Vermont referring to their cabeese as vans, too? Eh, you there?
Rich
Here in Western Canada, anyone who calls a caboose a van is immediately marked as an Easterner. Out here, they are typically "crummies" or "cabs." The latter may be short for caboose or for cabin, but either way, it can be confusing - "he's in the cab" can be one of two places, a mile or more apart. I have never heard them called "cabin cars" either, only read that in official reports.
The etymology of "caboose" is fairly interesting. Apparently it comes from a Dutch nautical term dealing with where the cook on old sailing vessels worked.
Gene