Caption: Its a bird? Its a plane? No its a flying caboose!
My good friend and fellow engineer (VIA) Dave W shot this photo yesterday of his caboose being lifted over the home he just sold in Willowdale, Ont before it was loaded on a flatbed truck on its way to a good home at the Halton County Radial Railway (to be confirmed).
Dave had always wanted a wooden caboose but they were hard to find in decent condition condition. Luckily I was working as a brakeman in the mid 80's on a transfer job that CN operated from Mac Yard to Leaside via Oriole (CN Bala Sub) and the CPR to Leaside when I noticed an abandoned CN 78653 in Leaside.
After some inquiries Dave was able to purchase the van from CN and had it moved to a friends land between the CN and CP mainlines at Newtonville, Ont. CN 78653 sat in Newtonville for many years until Dave bought an home with an acre of land near Yonge St and 407.
Dave extensively rebuilt CN78653, including new tongue n groove boards outside, insulation, 2 original oil burning stoves and many other original touches, but the best part...the original CN red paint and CN "serves all Canada" maple leaf logo purchased from CN. The van was used a a pool house for all the years Dave and his family lived in Willowdale.
With retirement from VIA pending Dave put the house up for sale and did not have any plans to take the caboose to his new property in Ballantrae, Ontario but wanted to give CN78653 a good home with fellow rail enthusiasts.
Hopefully many generations of railfans will be able to enjoy this icon of Canadian railroading for years to come.
Thanks for preserving and this classic CN caboose Dave.
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Now that is quite a love story. It is great to see this piece of history going to where we can all appreciate it. Many thanks!!!
Wow, I hope those riggers had substantial experience! Great photo in a not-to-be-believed situation. Caboose looks fine, by the way!
@PRR5406 yes they are professional and he had used them to put the van in his yard years ago.Dave has done a great job preserving the old van. I will pass that along.
Very nice!
It did in fact arrive at Halton County Railway Museum,
Guelph Line, on Tuesday evening, Dec 10, 2019 around
5:30 pm.
Awesome! Thanks for the update railwayguy. Dave and I are happy this van has food a good home1