caboose

thumb|A Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Northern extended-vision caboose at the end of a train in 1993 thumb|An ex–Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe Railway caboose used by [[BNSF Railway as a switching platform]]

A caboose is a crewed North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew (conductor and flagman) at the end of a train, who were formerly required for rear-end protection in non-signaled territory, switching and shunting; as well as in keeping a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles.