WHY ARE CABOOSES/CABEESES RED?

[NW Mailing List]

Red for fire engines was supposed to be for visibility and recognizability .
Quite probably that reasoning did apply to cabeese, too. However, red is not
truly all that visible. Red lights made sense at night, and it may be argued
that carrying that color over to the paint was appropriate. 

Probably all stories are apocryphal until someone uncovers the original
memo.


Craig Close
Balimer, Merlan
OK: Far West Catonsville
OR: Greater Oella 

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Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:47 AM
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Subject: Re: WHY ARE CABOOSES/CABEESES RED?


 It has always been my understanding that many railroads painted their
cabooses red simply so that the end of the train could be seen.  Don Mills

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