What large vehicle has "FRED"(acronym) replaced in recent years in North America as regards safety

Clue Tells "Wilma" lots of things

The railroad caboose.
FRED = Flashing Rear-End Device.

I didn't understand the "Wilma" clue until I read this (Wikip.):

quote:

More than just a flashing red taillight, the FRED monitors functions such as brake line pressure and accidental separation of the train using a motion sensor, functions that would have been monitored by a crew in the caboose. The FRED transmits the data via a telemetry link to the Head-of-Train Device (HOT) in the locomotive, known colloquially among railroaders as a Wilma—the FRED is said to be "married to Wilma," a play on Fred Flintstone's wife from The Flintstones cartoon.

The link above also has a photo of a FRED and a Wilma.

They are seen in the Uk However I think they are Just a Hi visibility flashing Lamp Need a railways technical Person or Gricer to help us out on this Open question..

Ps Still some Guardvans in service over here but it seems they are only attached to act as a "damper" on some long freight trains with lightweight trucks (have seen them mid train too)

Gricer...I always learn new words from you, bedstor. In the U.S. they're called railfans. I frequent a part of town through which BNSF hauls freight, and I've seen FREDs, but the light apparently only flashes after dark. I'm not a true railfan, but as a past and future (not current ) model railroader (HO), I knew about FREDs, which are easily modeled with an LED.

I thought it was just a taillight, until your question led me to learn that it involves computerized telemetry. So thanks!

Same from this side of the Pond Professor I've learnt lots of new North American terms since I started surfing (and especially from the Members of the Forums here and on DP. Thank You ) which get only vague mentions/definitions in some dictionaries

Will keep them coming (when I can post them )

as for the Flashing taillights in the UK they are "always on" even in daylight and on assembled trains with no Locomotive attached in Major Marshalling yards
The old oil lamps where only visible up to perhaps 150 yard in good visiblity and they were arranged in a pattern to denote the type of train it was.Only technical thing it denoted was the braking arrangement (Fitted or unfitted)

The single lamp arrangement can be seen up to a mile away (daytime) and like FRED says its the Back of a Train

Interesting link on Locomotive Lamp codes and Headlights

Very early idea on the safety/visibility aspect from 1830 (make a good weapon of war)

quote:

The Early American Headlamp
When railroads were introduced into North America, the need to increase profits came up against one major problem - how to run trains at night. The first recorded solution came from Horatio Allen who built the South Carolina Railroad Company in the early 1830s. Allen solved this problem by placing a fire of pine-wood knots kept burning in an urn-shaped basket made of iron rods. The basket rested on a bed of sand that covered the foremost of the two platform cars in front of the locomotive. (2)
www.ideashelper.com/Images/loco3.gif

Yes, that's a good link. 19C technology is fascinating.