|
Caption: Built in 1904 and almost 70 years after bringing up the rear of CNR Mixed 264 riding the rails through Algonquin Park, the prestige days are done as former CNR 77190 (ex -GTR 90066) sits in deteriorating condition on its own wheels in a field off Tutela Heights Road, Brantford, Ont.. After many miles on the rails the caboose may have served well as a bunkie or other accommodation over the post railway years at this location, but those days are sadly gone now too. (Equipment number confirmed in TSG) See the prestige days in Juilian Bernard posting, photo taken 70 years ago: http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=23376
|
Wow…what a find, and complete with historical background too!! How I never knew of this caboose is a mystery. Lived in Haldimand-Norfolk for nearly 30 years…with many trips to Brantford for railfanning. I’m sure on one or more trips….I passed it!
Thanks Todd. It caught me by surprise the first time I saw it last year, but without my camera. I drive that road frequently to and from Jarvis. The leaves will be off the trees again soon making it more visible.
I’ve always thought a caboose such as this one would look good restored in the middle of CN Gore Park, the triangular plot of land in the middle of Grey St./ West St. / Market St. by the Brantford VIA station. Too bad the city junked the tourism information caboose they once had out by Paris Rd. and Hardy Rd. Brantford doesn’t seem to care too much about preserving it’s history.
This is the one I looked at (with GHRA members) to acquire – it was offered to us for free for the cost of moving. It would have been $8k just to move it.
We decided against it as it exceeded our fiscal capacity. Looking at it now it’s deteriorated significantly…
It won’t last much longer and most certainly won’t survive a move. Thanks for sharing a picture of it, I haven’t seen this in a very long time now (16 years).