Built at Montreal in 1910, this steam engine began its service life as Canadian Northern 261, CN acquired it around 1920 and renamed it CN 1322, renamed again in 1958 to 1531. Now part of the Simcoe County Museum awaiting restoration funding. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provided shelter for crew at the end of a train, who were required for switching and shunting, and to keep a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, or overheating axles (hot boxes). Designs were originally modified box cars or flatbed cars carrying a cabin, but later became specialized vehicles, with projections above or to the sides of the car so crew could observe the train from shelter. The car also served as the conductors office, and on long routes, included accommodation and cooking facilities.