But not before being introduced to rail issues in the mid 1980’s. EOTI (end of train indicators) had pretty much replaced cabooses by that time. One state - Nebraska - had a legislature that was in the pocket of the rail unions, and they had a state law requiring trains over a certain length to have a caboose. This meant that a train which was traveling from NY to LA that traversed NE would have to stop and add a caboose before crossing any part of NE. Then they would stop and release the caboose once out of NE. Lawsuits were filed in Federal Court challenging this as an impairment of interstate commerce.
The ICC, which was within shouting distance of sunsetting at the time, got involved and the states all filed briefs. I had to review the briefs and pleadings for my state's DOT Secretary. Those defending the NE law (basically the rail unions) made laughably absurd arguments about how much was added to safety by the presence of the caboose crew. Mind you, we are talking about very long trains, some 2-3 miles in length. If the train hits something, the caboose crew has a long hike to the point where the accident was. And then they are just spectators. They do nothing to improve safety and prevent accidents.
I have not had contact with the industry in a long time, but I can imagine that telemetry is incredibly improved. End of train indicators probably send real time video, and there must be middle of train indicators as well.
“...the caboose crew has a long hike to the point where the accident was.”
It was for visual observation, to know when to stop the train. They have radios now.
“They do nothing to improve safety and prevent accidents.”
They were used for a long time so someone must have thought they were useful. I am sure some people on the ground who saw the flaming wheel would have wanted to notify the engineer.
A few months ago I looked at some spec sheets for EOT devices, wanted to know exactly what they do—none have any video capability. Also none of the manufacturers of EOT devices make a middle-of-train device.
EOT devices can sense the brake pipe pressure and transmit the readings and can also release the brake pipe pressure from the rear end of the train for quicker brake application.
That seems to be about all they do.