brake van; guard's van; caboose
A railway vehicle attached to the end of a freight train, used by the crew for braking and accommodation. The term is primarily historical in many regions, replaced by modern braking systems.
Old freight trains had a caboose coupled at the end.
The conductor rode in the brake van and operated the brakes.
Compound of 緩急 (kankyū, 'acceleration and deceleration; speed control') + 車 (sha, 'vehicle'). The term refers to a railway car equipped with manual braking controls.