bakvagnen

Bakvagnen is the Swedish term for the last car of a train. In railway usage it corresponds to the caboose or brake van found on freight trains, designed to house the train crew and to provide a place for paperwork, signaling, and brake equipment. Traditionally, a bakvagn carried a conductor and brakeman, offered space for dispatching and inspection tasks, and sometimes included a lookout arrangement to observe the train during movement. It also housed basic hand braking facilities and tools for minor repairs.

Historically common on freight services, the bakvagn served as a mobile workplace and observation point, allowing crew to monitor train handling and to perform certain duties without leaving the car. With the modernization of signaling, the introduction of end-of-train devices, and more distributed braking systems, the need for a dedicated rear car diminished in many networks from the mid- to late 20th century. As a result, many bakvagnar were retired or repurposed. Today, the concept persists primarily in heritage railways, in specialized maintenance trains, or in regions where traditional practices continue to be observed. The term remains largely historical and regional, with its practical use declining in contemporary mainstream rail operations.