Location: Roundhouse Park
Date photo taken: 11 November 2020
This is Canadian National Caboose #79144 and it is one of many outdoor exhibits accessible to the public at the Toronto Railway Museum despite COVID closures. While the museum itself is closed, the adjoining Roundhouse Park is dotted with outdoor exhibits which include structures, such as the 1896 Don Station, as well as train cars like this one.
This caboose actually started out life as a boxcar. Built in 1920, it hauled goods for years until wooden boxcars became obsolete. CN, rather than off -loading them, converted many, including this one, into cabooses. In the early days, the caboose provided a home away from home for those who worked on the train, but over time, the need for such accommodation lessened. Eventually it became more of an office on wheels. The cute little raised portion was where the conductor or brakeman could sit to keep an eye on the train.
If you want to support the Toronto Railway Museum, or just love trains, you might want to get yourself a ticket for "Royal Train Tours of Canada", the first in the museum's 2021 series of virtual lectures.
Fascinating! I love train travel! However, I did not know about the TO Railway Museum or the history of the caboose before reading this. Thanks for sharing really interesting info! Great pic taken on a great day! :)
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