July 27, 1957 saw the last steam locomotive arrive at the Musquodoboit Harbour Station and three days later, on July 30, the first diesel electric passed through the town. Canadian National applied in about 1975 to discontinue operation on the line and it was officially authorized abandoned on August 28, 1983. By that time the Musquodoboit Harbour Station had already been closed and turned into a community centre and museum. Today it remains a railway history museum and the Musquodoboit Harbour Visitor Centre, which occupies the station's waiting room. The rest of the station has been restored and refurnished to appear just as it would have while it served the community as a railway station. Inside are memorabilia, photographs, maps, artefacts, posters, tickets, and a small library.
Outside is where the train lovers will congregate. The highlight of the museum might be their small collection of rolling stock which is arrayed around the station. The collection includes a 44-ton GE diesel electric switching engine, a snowplow, a combination passenger/baggage car and a caboose painted in bright CN orange.
To the northwest the station/museum building, near the entrance, one will find this ex Canadian National caboose. Though its designation has been painted over, we have ascertained that it was designated 78801, a CN
End Cupola Caboose built in 1951. Notice that the caboose's body is all wood, highly unusual for a 1951 caboose. This is explained by the fact that it was not actually "built" but repurposed from a boxcar. It appears to have been displayed elsewhere in Musquodoboit Harbour before being moved to its new home at the Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum.
Enjoy the story of Nova Scotia railways at the Musquodoboit Railway Museum on Route 7. Examine the posters, tickets, maps and photographs in the Canadian Northern Railway station of 1918. Don't miss the rare ex-CN GE 44-tonner and the unique mail crane. A DAR combine from Nova Scotia's last mixed passenger and freight train is another highlight. A Visitor Information Centre occupies the waiting room and you will find an ice cream stand beside the quiet picnic grove.
From Nova Scotia Railway Heritage