My thoughts on the hobby.

[wmwalker]

Fred
It is a Flashing Rear End Device.(F.R.E.D.) its the light on the end car of the train instead of the Caboose. The ones I have seen most of them do not flash and sometimes do not work.

[Joe Satnik]

More than just a flashing light:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashing_rear-end_device

[rbryce1]

FRED stands for "Flashing Rear End Device", or also, Flashing Red End Device.  It is a flashing red light that can be installed on practically any rolling stock to identify the end of a train. 

Since the advent of air brakes, brakemen were no longer necessary on railroads, and thus the caboose was no longer needed to house them.  FRED provided a far more versatile means of identifying the end of a train than a caboose.

I understand the "F" in  FRED had a different connotation to the unemployed brakemen though!

[GG1onFordsDTandI]

Dom

What's a car with a FRED??

F.R.E.D-Flashing Red Emitting Device attaches to the coupler on the trailing car of a train as a warning device for any following trains. Look for them when you dont see a caboose.   

[M1FredQ]

Thanks everyone!!!

My other son Freddy loved it!!!!!

[TrainmanGene]

A Fred is the Flashing rear end devise on the rear of a train also known as a ETD End of train devise which replaced the Caboose.

[M1FredQ]

 Railroad exec friend of our family told us Cabooses may be making a comeback.

I don't have many details and he said he is not at liberty to openly talk about it YET!!!!!