I often take my dog walking through the Heritage Park, I like to look at the caboose and the old stationmasters house.
I often wondered why they didn’t use the actual train station as the Museum. I found out that Herb Rock had wanted to but Mayor Jack Noonan had said no, and gave CPR permission to demolish it.
Herb didn’t let that get him down. He then went on to start proceedings to obtain a CPR Caboose. The plan was to use it as an information booth. He was told that there were only five caboose available and a lot of places wanting them.
Well, Herb had a good answer for that, he just told them that in that case he would find a caboose from the CNR as there had also been a CNR line coming through here from Youngstown.
Apparently the CPR people didn’t want that to happen because next thing you know they have a caboose for Coronation.
Way to go Herb!
Herb worked on this for two years. He really wanted it to be in place for the 75th anniversary in 1986.
July 1, 1986
“CPR caboose finally coming
“After nearly two years of waiting the CPR caboose for Coronation will be here the second week in July, said Coronation Town Councillor, Herb Rock.
“Herb said that at the present time the caboose is sitting in Edmonton where it will be painted before shipping to Coronation by CPR.”
They were a little late getting it here, but it did finally arrive. Then all they had to do was get it set onto its new home.
This was easier said than done.
July 29, 1986
“Up and Over
“Two cranes from Cranemaster of Red Deer moved the Coronation Caboose into place on Monday July 28. A small crowd of ‘sidewalk superintendents’ gathered to give their input as to how the 15 ton caboose should be moved.
“The moving operation took considerably longer than originally anticipated because of the soft conditions of the site. Several times the vehicles were stuck trying to manoeuvre the caboose into place.”
They finally did get it all set up, and I think it was well worth the effort.
Thanks Herb.

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