THUNDER BAY — More than 2,000 hours of volunteer labour has culminated in the completion of the exterior restoration of the historic CNR caboose parked at Prince Arthur's Landing.
Now the railway enthusiasts can turn their full attention to repairing the interior of caboose 78175.
"I'm proud of what our group has accomplished" over the past 18 months, says Craig Symington, president of the Thunder Bay Railway Historical Society.
"What was once considered scrap is now the jewel of Prince Arthur's Landing," Symington said.
He added that the group was once told they would never succeed in saving the caboose.
"Not only have we saved it, but we have exceeded all expectations and have created an asset for the City of Thunder Bay for generations to come."
The TBRHS, which owns the caboose, did intensive research in order to restore it to how it looked in the mid-1950s.
Work on the interior has already begun, including painting and acquisition of missing components.
For former railroader Bob Scarcello, who was back at work in the caboose on Monday, it's a labour of love.
"I worked for the railway for 37 years, and I saw an article about restoring it, and said to myself "That's something I can get involved with.' I love everything to do with railway. I grew up with the steam engines. It's a passion of mine," Scarcello said.
When the interior restoration is finished, the caboose will be used as an educational tool to show people what it was like to live and work on the railway.
The TBRHS is now working toward getting the VIA passenger train moved from the Kaministiquia River Heritage Park to the Pool 6 area, where they would begin another restoration project.
The group says the historic railway attractions can help make the waterfront a world-class tourist destination.
