<P> Cabooses were used on every freight train until the 1980s , when safety laws requiring the presence of cabooses and full crews were relaxed . Developments in monitoring and safety technology such as lineside defect detectors and end - of - train devices resulted in crew reductions and the phasing out of caboose cars . Nowadays , they are generally only used on rail maintenance or hazardous materials trains , or on heritage and tourist railroads . </P>
<P> Cabooses were used on every freight train until the 1980s , when safety laws requiring the presence of cabooses and full crews were relaxed . Developments in monitoring and safety technology such as lineside defect detectors and end - of - train devices resulted in crew reductions and the phasing out of caboose cars . Nowadays , they are generally only used on rail maintenance or hazardous materials trains , or on heritage and tourist railroads . </P>
when did they stop using cabooses on trains
when did they stop using cabooses on trains
the 1980s
the 1980s