A railroad caboose, located as the last car in a freight train, served as an office for the train's conductor. It also provided a place from which the conductor and the rear brakeman could observe the train while in transit. They would watch for such problems as shifted load and overheated bearings, either of which could cause a wreck.
Northern Pacific Wooden Caboose
This Northern Pacific Railway wooden cupola caboose was built in 1901 by the South Baltimore Car Works in Baltimore, Maryland. It was constructed with a wood body and wood underframe. Its purchase price in 1901 was $994.76.