Thanks for the info, George!...and the insightful recollection from CVW. The last time we used a caboose in Fresno that actually functioned as intended was on a work train near Madera when the BNSF installed the loop track at Trigo for a grain elevator. We were then told to take light power and the cab to Merced, to a location just east of Tuttle (the name escapes me). I chose to ride in the cab hopefully to stretch out. That was not to be. Track speed caused so much damn noise I couldn't here the radio or anything else but a large steel box flying along on somewhat slid flat wheels. I was damn near deaf by the time we got there. That was BN 25816.

Now, all of our remaining cabooses are stenciled 'DO NOT OCCUPY', mostly boarded up and only serve as shoving platforms.