I don’t understand. I live in a community, Grays Harbor, Washington that still utilizes freight trains to move logs, grain, household trash, etc. I have not seen a train with a caboose for 20 years. Trains here only have engines and freight cars. Nowadays what does a conductor do? And where do they do it?
The do it on a feather bed
Caboose were eliminated in the 80s. So was the 5-man crew. With thru trains going from A to B with no stops, a 2-man crew is the norm. The conductor is the boss, not the engineer. He rides up front in the cab. Locals and other trains that have work to do along the way - typical for regionals and short lines - will have a 3 or 4 man crew. some one needs to be on the ground throwing switches.
Conductors are in charge of the train. They communicate with dispatchers, line switches, couple and uncouple cars, connect and disconnect air hoses, walk the train to ensure there are no issues, etc.
I live in rural N Nevada. There is a rail line that does NOT serve any communities anymore.
BUT-—There is a train south & then north almost every day except for Covid.
I am convinced that it is a track used for training new engineers. From 19 to 40 cars. GOING SLOWLY....