Brockville in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Brockville "Van" or Caboose

Built 1954 - Donated, restored and placed here, 1987

Photographed by Kevin Craft, August 4, 2015

1. The Brockville "Van" or Caboose Marker

Inscription.
This steel caboose was built in 1954 for the Canadian Pacific Railway (C.P.R.) at their Angus Shops in Montréal. It served the Eastern Division of the railway for many years.
Cabooses, or "vans" to trainmen, were usually used at the end of freight trains. The Brockville caboose (serial no. 437464) probably began his life as an "assigned" caboose, but later functioned as a "pooled" or "run-through" caboose. Early cabooses were "assigned" to only one conductor. A "pooled" caboose remained hooked up to a train over an extended route, while the crew, consisting of at least one conductor and one brakeman, would change periodically.
In 1987, the city of Brockville expressed an interest in obtaining a retired caboose for this site and the CPR generously donated the car. Originally destined for the Winnipeg salvaging yards, the caboose has been restored to the 1950s era, to commemorate Brockville's railway history and its many railway workers.

Technical details:

33'-2" (10.11 metres) long and weighs 45,000 lbs (20,412 kg.)
Steel superstructure, underframe and car
5' x 9'(152.4 cm x 274.32 cm) Barber trucks
Wabco air brakes and Ajax 15"

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(38.1 cm) wheel hand brakes
Heating by caboose stove
Cooking fuel: coal, coke or oil
Lighting: Aladdin or Coleman oil lamps

Erected 2008 by City of Brockville Railway Tunnel Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.

Location. 44° 35.384′ N, 75° 40.89′ W. Marker is in Brockville, Ontario, in Leeds and Grenville United Counties. It can be reached from the intersection of Water Street East and Ferry Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Water Street West, Brockville ON K6V 3L5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario

and specifically in Southeastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major James M. Walsh

Wideview of The Brockville "Van" or Caboose Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Craft, August 4, 2015

2. Wideview of The Brockville "Van" or Caboose Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Great War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brockville Tunnel 1860 (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Farmers' Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Rowing Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Ferry Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); A view of Brockville from the waterfront CPR Docks (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Brockville & Ottawa Railway - Passenger Depot (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brockville.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2015, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 770 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2015, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec.