The Old Caboose

On the way home from Kemptville the other day we noticed this old CP Rail caboose. It was the only car in sight, sitting on a spur just off the mainline (which is about four or five tracks’ worth). Thinking it might be worth a look, we pulled over and checked it out.

While the doors at either end of the car are boarded up, the windows are easy enough to climb through. As you might expect, it’s in pretty rough shape inside:

There are a number of cabinets in the car, one of which is pretty much torn out of the wall (left side of picture, blocking sunlight from above). Most are empty, though one (labelled “emergency blankets”) contains a rotten-looking pile of rags. Not much trash laying around — the odd candy wrapper, and a torn page from a girly magazine. Broken glass everywhere, though; looks like the tempered stuff, so it couldn’t really cut you up or anything.

Not sure what that gauge is for, maybe the pressure for the hydraulic system. On the upper deck, there are two remarkably comfortable swivel-type chairs, which afford a commanding view of the abandoned railway car’s surroundings. Seems to me like a good place to sit and imagine the hobo-life, or just watch the sunset. Plus, from up there you can climb out onto the roof…