The caboose was an American railroad fixture that once trailed behind a train's cars. Its use began in the early 1830's, and it provided shelter for the conductor, brakemen, and flagmen aboard the train. In the caboose, the crew completed paperwork, watched the train for hazards or malfunctions, cooked meals, and slept. New inventions and labor laws eventually made the caboose unnecessary. Caboose #14327, called a waycar by the railroads, was built in 1890 and began service on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Route, which had tracks throughout the Midwest. It later served on the Fort Worth and Denver Route and was retired in the 1960's. The Acrey family lived in waycar #14327 while building their ranch house, and they later donated it to the Las Cruces Railroad Museum. It was originally mineral red, contrary to the popular belief that all cabooses were bright red. Conductors often regarded the caboose as a home away from home, though it was also called names such as crummy, hack, dog house, and waycar.