Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
BARRY’S BAY – The caboose at Water Tower Park in Barry’s Bay may not be there much longer. Council resolved to assign the car as surplus equipment and prepare it to be sold or given to another party. Staff will present options at a future council meeting.
Recreation Co-ordinator Hannah Gutoskie presented a report to council for the Township of Madawaska Valley at the Jan. 14 meeting about the state of the caboose and seeking direction from council on next steps.
Council has discussed the caboose previously and have noted that it is not of the correct era for the original trains that ran through the town, it needs significant repair, is subjected to vandalism and, as a Canadian Pacific car, is not from the correct railway because Canadian National operated at Barry’s Bay.
Council made a donation to upkeep in 2012. Gutoskie’s report states that it should be repainted, windows replaced or repaired and be fenced to reduce incidence of vandalism.
Gutoskie met with the caboose committee in December. The two remaining members are stepping down and no one has agreed to continue the committee.
Gutoskie’s report notes that the StationKeepers MV are not interested in repairing or maintaining the caboose.
“Staff feel that unless council are interested in investing in the look and safety of the caboose, consideration should be given for its removal,” states the report.
The caboose was brought to town through the efforts of Cathie Corrigan, her husband Bob – who were the two remaining members of the committee – and the train station restoration committee.
The caboose was owned by Ruth Millar and her husband. Millar initially declined to part with the car because her husband was a train buff. After he passed away, Millar got in touch with Cathie to say she was willing to let the caboose go. The Millar family donated $5,000 to pay for transportation. The car was dismantled and carried on several trucks to Water Tower Park in 2008. The roof was replaced in 2015. The caboose was placed at the park so that it didn’t detract from the Station Museum and it would sit with the other rail artifacts in the park.
Coun. Mary Blank said the caboose is off on its own and that people generally ignore it except for an “occasional picture.” She is in favour of selling or donating the car to someone else.
“It really is an inaccurate description of a caboose that went through here,” said Mayor Mark Willmer and that continuing to spend on it doesn’t make sense. He continued that with no committee to manage it, “we should say goodbye.”
Council acknowledged that the water tower will need significant expenditure in the coming years to restore and that is the greater priority.
Coun. David Shulist raised the issue of cost to transport it somewhere else. Gutoskie told council her idea is to make it available at no cost for the car and hope that another party will pay to transport it. She said there are funds left in the Caboose Committee account that could be used to help defray transportation costs.
Chief Administrative Officer Suzanne Klatt read a motion to declare the caboose as surplus property and for staff to bring back options for disposition. Council passed the motion unanimously.
robert@thevalleygazette.ca
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