The Caboose is a fading memory for some. At what once use to be seen on the tail end of every train clanking along the railroad tracks is now becoming an extinct part of our history. Throughout history the railroad has seen and underwent many changes. One change was adding the cupola,the box like structure on top of the caboose, during the Civil War era. Modern technology has played a major factor in the extintion of the cabooose. Electronic boxes attached to the back of the end car carries a "flashing rear-end device" telling the engineer how fast the rear of the train is going and what direction and are able to set the train air brake into emergency at the command of the engineer.

The Caboose has had more names than any other piece of railroad equipment- even more than the locomotive. Railroaders have called it by numerous names such as: cabin car, crummy, shack, waycar, bobber, brainbox, shanty, hack, just to name a few.

The caboose was the end car of the train and used for purposes such as; a shelter for the brakeman who could watch the cars ahead, sleep, cook and eat their meals. It was typically a place where the conductor and rear brakeman would do their paperwork. It served as the working headquaters of the conductor and his rear brakeman. Having someone at the rear of the train also helped out a great deal in switching moves, as someone was at the end of thetrain to throw switches, and added to train safety as if the train were to need an emergency stop, the crew in the caboose could set the train's air brake into emergency.