A caboose is a specialised railway car traditionally positioned at the end of freight trains in North America. Originally serving as a mobile shelter for train crews, it played a crucial role in operations such as switching, shunting, and monitoring the train for issues like load shifting, equipment malfunctions, or overheating axles. Early cabooses were simple and utilitarian, providing only basic facilities for the crew. However, later designs incorporated innovations like bay windows or cupolas to improve visibility along the length of the train. Although modern technology has largely rendered the caboose obsolete, these cars remain enduring symbols of railway history and are still occasionally used on maintenance or hazardous materials trains.

Northeastern Style 

The so-called Northeastern Style caboose was one of the first mass-produced, all-steel cabooses. Originally designed by the Reading Company in the early 1920s, this model was based on a proposed USRA design that initially called for wood sheathing. The Reading built 285 of these cabooses across several classes, with the earliest cars featuring solid underframes and later models adopting Duryea cushion underframes.

The success of the Reading’s design led other Northeastern railroads, including the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Lehigh & New England, Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh & West Virginia, and Western Maryland, to adopt similar cars. Some were constructed by the Reading, while others were built in their respective railroad shops. Variations in production resulted in differences in trucks, running boards, steps, grab irons, and end wall windows—or the lack thereof—among different groups of cars.

These sturdy cabooses saw long service lives, surviving into the Conrail and Chessie eras and continuing in operation until the end of widespread caboose use. Many were sold second-hand to both Class 1 and shortline railroads. Due to their durability and extended service, numerous Northeastern Design cabooses have been preserved in museums, private collections, and even repurposed as part of unique accommodations like hotels.

International Wide Vision

Wide-vision cabooses, also called extended-vision cabooses, represent a significant and practical evolution of the caboose design. These models are characterised by cupolas that extend beyond the sides of the car body, providing an enhanced field of vision for the crew. This design emerged to address the visibility challenges posed by taller freight cars, which became more prevalent after World War II. The expanded cupola not only offered a superior vantage point but also increased interior space for crew members. While some railroads, such as Rock Island, retrofitted standard cabooses with windowed extensions to create this style, most wide-vision cabooses were purpose-built. The International Car Company played a key role in producing these iconic cabooses, supplying them to railroads across the United States.

Maine Central

Known on the Maine Central as “Buggies”.

Maine Central Caboose #614R at Livermore Falls, ME on 8 December 1977. Photo by Richard Merriam.
Maine Central Caboose #614R is seen at Livermore Falls, ME on 8 December 1977. © Richard Merriam
Maine Central wooden caboose re-sheathed with steel at Waterville, ME. in April 1980. © George Melvin Collection
Originally a wooden caboose, Maine Central #623 was one of a few that were rebuilt with steel sides and ends and new aluminium window frames. Bangor, ME. 16 February 1983 © D.S.Hutchinson Collection
Maine Central caboose #648R and WHSX 112 hopper car in a train leaving Rigby Yard, Portland, Maine, March 15, 1977.
A Maine Central caboose #648R adds a classic touch to a train departing Rigby Yard, Portland, Maine, on 15 March 1977. The trainman strikes a pose that would likely raise eyebrows in today’s safety-conscious world. Also seen in the mix is WHSX 112, a W. H. Shurtleff Co. PS 4427 cu. ft. PS 3-bay hopper, specifically used for salt traffic. © Doug Lilly
Maine Central Cupola Caboose #648R at Hermon, Maine, photographed on 23 July 1977. Built at Waterville Shops in 1976, it was one of three of its design.
Maine Central Cupola Caboose #648R at Hermon, Maine, on 23 July 1977. Home-built at Waterville Shops in 1976, this caboose was one of three of this design on the MEC roster. © Thomas Seiler
Maine Central Caboose 664, a classic Northeastern design, was photographed in Calais, Maine, in October 1978. Now preserved at the Danbury Railway Museum, this caboose reflects the enduring legacy of railroading in the Northeast. © George Berisso
As International Wide Vision caboose #671 of YR-1 St. Johnsbury – Rigby Yard, Portland clears the B&M diamond in Whitefield, NH, a crewman adjusts the ball signal—the last of its kind in regular railroad service. The ball on the left will be hoisted to the high position, signalling the B&M to proceed, a practice that inspired the term “highball.” © Doug Kroll
  • 600–639: Various styles of WWI-era wooden cabooses rebuilt with plywood sides.
  • 640–641: International Wide Vision with straight side sills.
  • 642–645: International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills.
  • 646: One-of-a-kind caboose built from a boxcar.
  • 647: Long home-built caboose on express reefer trucks with vertical cupola sides.
  • 648–650: Long home-built cabooses on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides.
  • 651–654: International Wide Vision with straight side sills.
  • 655–659: International Standard Cupola cabooses.
  • 660–664: Ex-Western Maryland Northeastern Style cabooses.
  • 670–672: International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills and no running boards

The ‘R’ stands for restricted – limited to home road use only.

The use of cabooses on Guilford started being phased out in 1985.

No.DetailsRRPictureArchiveNotes
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537 836457 
…   
559 692696 
560 193695 
561   
562   
563 4204953http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec563.html
…   
571
5811911 Laconia Car Company674387 
582  http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec582.html
…   
610 674566 
611 836459 
612R  Micro-Trains 100 00 610 ★
613   
614 397776 
615   
616 710267Atlas 50 001 390 ★
617 629149 
618 692927 
619   
620   
621 543930 
622   
623 396594 
624   
625   
626   
627 676334 
628 3553265 
629   
630 2910794Intervale in New England Glory: Mountain Division
631  
632  
634  
637Atlas 50 001 391 ★
—
640
641
642International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills
643International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills
644International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills380097 / 692929The only MEC Caboose to wear Guilford colours. Atlas N Master International Extended-Vision Caboose?
645International Wide Vision with tabbed side sills
646One of a kind built from a boxcar462634/396599/692687Built from a box car at Waterville shops now on the Grafton and Upton Railroad in MA. Often on the Mountain division around Gilman and Whitefield. Beecher Falls caboose
647Long home-built on express reefer trucks with verticle cupola sides 
648RLong home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 676331/647290Blomberg B Trucks
649RLong home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 674388
650RLong home-built on express reefer trucks with sloped cupola sides 650R was originally numbered 656 but was renumbered in 1963 to make room for a new series of cabooses from I.C.C., 655-659.
651Atlas 50 000 295 ★
652
653  http://cencalrails.railfan.net/mec653.jpg
Atlas 50 000 296 ★
654
655International Standard Cupola Atlas 50 005 605 ★
656International Standard Cupola Atlas 43011 ★ Atlas 43018 ★
657International Standard Cupola Atlas 43111 ★ Atlas 43116 ★
658International Standard Cupola Atlas 43112 ★ Atlas 43117 ★
659International Standard CupolaAtlas 43012 ★ Atlas 43019 ★ Atlas 50 005 606 ★
660Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style RRPAex-WM 1878. Purchased in 1962. Now on display at Cole Land Transportation Museum.
661Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 308591ex-WM 1904. Built in 1940 by Union Bridge. Purchased in 1962. Acquired by Danbury Railway Museum in 2000. Bachmann 16854 ★
662Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 674565ex-WM 1804. Purchased in 1962. Kimball Oil, Great Barrington, MA, from Canaan, CT.
663Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 710270/692936ex-WM 1838. Purchased in 1962. David Ritz, Apalachin, NY.
664Ex Western Maryland Northeastern Style 730269ex-WM 1837. Purchased in 1962. Danbury RR Museum, Danbury, CT, from Canaan, CT.
670International Wide Vision183725Atlas 30281 ★ Atlas 30289 ★
671International Wide Vision380097/692929
672International Wide Vision540818