Heritage Buildings

Morden CPR Station

Built in 1905/6, this railway station is the same design as those in Boissevain, Hartney, Kenton, Winkler and Virden.   

The Morden Canadian Railway Station was designed by Ralph B Pratt in 1899.  Building of the station began in 1905, but construction was delayed until 1906, when the building was completed.

Freight Room

The large red freight wagons were pulled through the wide loading doors, and were used to load and unload luggage and other freight.  Trunks would be a common container used to hold belongings of families immigrating to the area from Russia.

Office

A book of original train passenger records is found here.  In the desk drawer, there's  the seal and wax for sealing envelopes, stamped with the "CPR" logo.  Two wooden mail cranes are on display.  These would be held out to trains passing by, so that a mailbag could be received or taken. 

Waiting Room

The waiting room still holds its original benches, stoves and radiator covers.  Note that the beam running the width of the room was initially meant to be a wall dividing the space into two rooms – one for the women and the other for men.  However, in the time between the architects' plans and the actual construction date, plans were changed to include only one room. 

Station Agent's Home (upstairs)

The size of the dwelling is fairly spacious for the time, as the job of the station agent was considered quite pretigious.  Also note that most of the artifacts in the home are primarily English, as the Station Agent for the CPR was typically an English man. 

The station was in operation until the late 1960's and was moved to the museum grounds in 1972. 

The Caboose - Type

The caboose was the brightly colored car that marked the end of every freight train.  It provided the train crew with a shelter at the rear of the train. 

From here they could exit the train for switching or to protect the rear of the train when stopped.  It also served as the office of the conductor and the "home" of the train crew for longer trips with minimal living quarters. 

Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train in North America, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads. 

Tradition on many lines held that the caboose should be painted a bright red.

The caboose was moved to the museum grounds in ____.