CABOOSE(S) OR ETD(S)?

I run both, but the caboose looks better to me.

Since I model in the early to mid 1950s, and the ETD's hadn't been invented yet, I use nothing but prototypical cabooses (no smoke either).

Cabeese!

WayCars

cabooses/cabeese/cabeeses, I have a few ETD's but I still put a caboose on. Cabooses are soooo cool, blinking lights are kinda lame

My layout.  My rules.  Every freight has a caboose.

NH Joe

I still use a caboose for every freight train. I feel that a freight train without a caboose looks naked.

Like one other mentioned the EDT's look lame.

Also the time frame for my model railroad the EDT's were first coming out and the railroad I like probably never had a chance to use an EDT.

Lee Fritz

Cabins!

All ETD's!!!! I run modern freight trains. I have cabooses. The only time I'll run a caboose is when my model railroading club is having a show. I'll run my Atlas "O" caboose that has a blinking red light on the end of the caboose................rogerw.

All caboose, all the time!!

Ralph

Paul,

   Caboose on the Work trains, Cabin Caboose no the Logging Trains,  Passenger Trains have the matching passenger Rail Cars.

PCRR/Dave

Cabeese, model period late 1940's through 1965.

Both.

Steam engines that I run must have a caboose and most diesels will have a FRED or caboose depending on Railroad

Cabooses(cabeese? caboosii?). The only blinking lights I have are on my water towers.

Now heres some thing funny.When I was a kid in my home town of monroe nc.I used to walk to my aunts house from a summer job I had.Well I had to cross the freight yard at a crossing. Heres comes a freight train lead by L&N units.It was a pretty long train at the end was a L&N caboose that had a ETD.But most of my trains have caboose and some time I have a boxcar behind it.Well I saw a freight train like that only once thou.

Caboose always!!

Trains on my railroad always either have a caboose or an observation car.

Both - Using MTH ETD's Yellow or White when I can find them - Another product MTH can't seem to get into the hands of dealers. Found one on Ebay tonight for $30.00 + shipping - figure that is another $10.00 so a part that normally sells for $20.00 I just paid double - Sounds like more caboose's are needed. Either that or I learn how to add a LED to the end of the train.

Cabooses, of various varieties...sidedoors, combines, drovers...kitbuilt or scratchbuilt,

mostly...think one is a kitbashed MTH sidedoor.  No plain jane cabooses, so few from

MTH or Lionel or other manufactuers, except for Hallmark or other brass side doors, etc. picked up cheap.  "ETD"? What is that?  "Every Train Derailed"?

Both--If running mixed freight= Caboose

running container or auto carriers= ETD

I prefer the acronym FRED over ETD, and my interpretation of the first letter tells everyone what I think of the device.

Besides, the thing didn't yet exist in prewar/wartime RRing.

Cabeese Forever!

Maybe somebody can tell what the term FRED means? I have not heard of it before.

Lee Fritz

"Flashing Rear End Device"

My trains are all 1945-1965 era so I run a caboose at the end of each freight train. I'd use  a FRED if I ran more modern trains.

On my layout, if a freight train doesn't have a caboose, it ain't a train! 

I run both but the majority is cabooses.......................Paul

For me, all freights get a caboose, regardless of era.

Here's another question: who runs modern freight trains with a trailing locomotive? Seems like most of the real-life through freights I see lately are that way.

Modern trains no cabooses, earlier ones with a caboose.

Art

Now this is all I've needed to hear as I love my cabooses, but still liked the flashing light, so now all my cabooses may have to get this now that I can say it's prototypical.

Cabin Cars...none of that new newfangled light stuff.

N&W Steam, I always run a caboose. Need to take some pictures, but I finally got a couple of the Weaver brass N&W Cabooses. One CF and one CG.

I don't even own a FRED.

Wow, ask a Question, and here comes the answers....Being that I am the temporary owner of my model railroad, (Lord Willing), I strive for the new more modern scale like colorful cabooses....I do run some with car end devises for fun, but I Love the New Cabooses by all the manufactures......Great thread....

Originally posted by Matt Makens:

Cabooses are soooo cool, blinking lights are kinda lame!

Well What are you going to do about those Atlas O Master Series cabooses with the blinking light at the ends?

Cabin cars rule galore!

I always prefer a caboose on my consists.

I run steam and first generation diesel. Cabeese (or sometimes and observation car).

My sister is a speech therapist in a Florida public elementary school and for years she held classes in a retired caboose.  The kids LOVED to go to Mrs. Bobo's class.  When they were good, they got to climb into the top and sit for a while.  A really special treat for good behavior. But, progress and new buildings have replaced the caboose with an ordinary class room.  How boring!