Caboose hops WayCar lites... semantics in Tales of the Jointed Track

These were predominant in my early railroad career. Caboose hops were multi- functional at that time. They were reposition moves for Cabooses need at the terminal, locomotive reposition moves and dead heading crews home.

I ran, as a fireman and as an engineer, or as a dead head crew on there. Usually the BN/C&S ran these. The consist was usually 5 to 10 locomotives and 4 to 7 cabooses. Unneeded power was isolated, and two units left on line. Like a mini passenger train and we ran the wheels off ‘em.

On arrival at Rice Yard, Denver, we’d cut the hacks off on the lead in front of the yard office. Sawed the power back to the roundhouse lead, and power to the fuel track. The train crews rode the hacks…the other head brakemen would rejoin with us, for the moves to the house. Their cars and / or were there. A good 4 and a half hour run …Yeah nice.

This is the best I could do to

I think this maybe a local, but engines and cabooses… Waycar lite , Caboose Hop..

Last updated February 06, 2015