When I was a lad, I loved trains. My brothers and I would go to the park down the street that bordered the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. We would find a good spot to watch the trains go by.
We would wave to the engineer in the front, and then waited for the end of the train and the caboose. On a good day we would get a friendly wave from the conductor riding in the steel shanty at the rear of the train.
Every freight train ended with a caboose. It was always the last car, and it carried the conductor and a brakeman, who watched the train from the rear and made sure that all was well from that perspective. The conductor also did reports in the caboose as the train went on its way to the next destination.
When the train was stopped, the brakeman would walk back down the track with a lantern to warn approaching trains that the rails ahead were blocked. The caboose served as both the crew's office and lodging place, as they slept on board their moving workplace!
But by the 1980's, the caboose was slowly replaced with an electronic signaling device at the end of the train. The device could signal following trains, and alert the engine crew of technical problems with the equipment.
The caboose, which had served the railroads for 140 years, was now an obsolete piece of technology. There was no need to add the extra weight, and the two workers were no longer needed.
It still worked, but it was neither efficient nor cost effective. As a result, most were sold for scrap or reconfigured for work trains. The age of the caboose is over.
If you look around your house or office, I'll bet that you can find a hundred pieces of obsolete technology that had its day but is no longer useful. I wonder why we have so much trouble letting go of these things.
We know we'll never use them again, but we paid so much for them that it's hard to say goodbye. And so they collect into a mass and gather dust.
Come to think of it, I'm getting on and I'm not all that useful anymore either. I wonder what will be used to replace ME?
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All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
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Richard, HA, I didn't see the last line coming! I beg to differ, you are not obolete! I love both the photo and the post!
If I ever get down to see Dad (probably not, and its not a happy story) but if I do, I am bringing my camera and following you around!
You are so right. Some of those items were a gift, or a big deal when you bought them, and it is hard to just toss them out. I live in a lot of clutter because of that mindset and I wish I could change.
I will never see a train again without thinking Atlas Shrugged.
Just sayin....
Andrea...
That would be a lot of fun! Come on down! ;)
Sandra...
I still have a jillion floppy disk laying around. Why? There is no logical explanation for that! lol and thanks.
Missy...
Ah, an Ayn Rand fan are we? THX.
I liked the post. I too was forever altered by Atlas. Unlike old technologies you have the ability to reinvent yourself over and over again.
Richard, you are irreplaceable! Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite books - should have known you and Missy would be familiar.
Hi Richard.
I must say I did not even know cabooses were no more. You learn something new everyday!
Thanks for writing,
Ken
Brian...
But I have reinvented myself so many times that I am tired! ;)
Maria...
I think that most real estate agents and mortgage brokers would be individualists! And to think that the Federal government will have an ownership stake in GM (shudder) THX
Ken...
I haven't seen one on an active train in over 20 years! I did ride n one once, though!
Hey I'm getting kinda tired but I still have a few more good years left in me. Kinda like an old locomotive with a rebuilt egine.
Atlas Shrugged should be required reading, particularly NOW.
I digress...my original comment was going to be you will never be obsolete! ;-)
Richard,
Am exploring the outside blogs recommended by Brad as great examples.
I am still charmed by trains - was even in ensemble-created play set on trains and in trains stations. Bet you don't know many people who can walk and make it look like the train is chugging along...
Won't even address that last line 'cause you know we all need you.
Richard, I too love trains. The loss of the Caboose was a loss of an era!
My husband gets rid of EVERYTHING obsolete and not useable. In fact, every six months he waits until I go out and 'cleans' house. Everything not in use or a dumb buy of mine goes to the Goodwill.
Richard - I have been purging our house of a lot of "stuff" lately, including a ridiculous amount of technology. To answer the final question in your post, it will be a cyborg.
Great train pic - we visit Stroudsberg about once a year, sometimes going to the train museum. Good times - especially riding them while smelling the wood burning stoves lit in the cars. ahhhh.
The US National Park Service has a national historic site train museum located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They have several train cars on display as well as a short steam train ride. The Steamtown National Historic Site is a great way to spend a few hours when you are in the area.
You are right on this one Richard. I am continually updating my stuff as technology wears out or becomes outdated. Tax write-offs too...
Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN
Just the word caboose makes me laugh - your posts always make me smie and wonder. Thanks
Richard,
I am not to sure there will be anything or anyone that will be able to replace the "ENFORCER". We used to do the same thin in San Antonio when we were kids.
Cameron...
Ah, that's it. I need a major overhaul! Thanks my friend.
Susan...
Atlas Shrugged will NEVER be required reading in our lifetimes, and that's too bad. Thanks As always for the kind words!
Irene...
I love trains and everything about them. I need to write more posts about them. Thanks for those very nice words!
I remember my Mom used to always point out the Caboose at the end of a train when I was a child. The trains never look the same anymore.
Hey Richard,
great post!
You can never become obsolete especially to us here in the rain!
Richard,
I guess I have not been paying attention to my trains. I still thought there were cabooses.
Never thought about technology as abeing outdated...this could include lots of other things in our head also....in this economy, wonder what ideas we might get rid of too????