I’ve found some of the individual states legislation on the construction of cabooses in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report for 1914 at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt/search?q1=caboose;id=hvd.hj2ajm;view=1up;seq=7  (part 1) and https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.a0004011052&view=1up&seq=9 (part 2)

Although the phraseology of the Acts is basically similar, there are wide variations in what was prescribed and permitted under the various Acts.  Of the eighteen states covered in the report, only one – New York – required steel center sills, while three or four related the construction strength of the caboose to MCB standards. There were also wide variations in the question of platforms, steps, rails and interior requirements, although all specified two four-wheel trucks. However, some Acts allowed existing equipment to be used until general repairs were required, others permitted their use in yard and local work, while the 1909 Illinois legislation provided -
          The provisions of this act shall not apply to the use of caboose cars in yard and in transfer service, nor to the use of caboose cars now owned
         by any railroad or railway company operating in this State.
At that time, there were 152 railroads (including subsidiaries and leased roads) operating in Illinois.

The report includes the legislation from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire and Washington.

Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ

I’m building two CB&Q NE-10 waycars. The version I’m building is the modification in 1947 which added an electric wheel driven generator, battery boxes on both sides, and a wagon wheel antenna for radio communication. At some point in or after 1947, Mars lights were added to both ends. Two styles of Mars lights are included in the kit, a round housing with a smaller lens, and a larger square housing with a large lens. I’ve studied the photos in the NE-10 chapter of The Burlington Waycars by Danniel, Reis, and Dowda, and I’ve noticed waycars on some trains had both traditional lantern markers and the large square Mars lights (photos from 1962-1968), while photos taken in 1969 and 1972 show only the Mars light without markers.  At some point in the 1060s, the lantern markers were electrified as evidenced by a cord that plugged into receptacles on each side of the ends.

Questions

Was there a rule change after 1968 that discontinued use of traditional markers when a Mars light was used?

Where both Mars light styles actually used, and what are the dates they were first installed? All photos from the 1960s show square housings.

When were markers first electrified?

Answers to these questions have a practical application, as I plan to light the markers and/or Mars lights.

Nelson Moyer

There’s a poultry car beyond the materials tower to the left of the distant boxcars, too.

Eric Hansmann

Murfreesboro, TN