I purchased a neat replica of the modern era of railroading device called the End of Train (EOT) marker. This device on prototype trains took the place of the old Caboose car marking the end of a train. Actually what killed the icon of railroading - the Caboose - was not this device in and of itself, rather it was the modern age of computers. As locomotives became more and more sophisticated with computer technology - the job of the Brakeman became obsolete. Now computers in the loco could read out to the Engineer and control the brake pressure and release it without the need for the Brakeman to do this and/or control it. So, the rail car he rode in, the Caboose, also became obsolete and largely faded from modern railroads.
This EOT device was made by Ring Engineering and comes ready to install with its own replacement truck set w/33" metal wheels, circuit board and wired LED-powered flashing light attached to a metal knuckle-coupler. It draws power from the DCC master unit through the rails. Installation was a snap. At around $45 each, I just started with just this one, but plan on purchasing 4 or 5 more to add to the end of all my trains.
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