What’s it like working in a caboose?

By Joan Janzen

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in a caboose? Eastyn Jakubowski at the tourist information centre at Leader was able to provide an answer. For the past four summers, she has worked in a caboose, albeit a retired caboose, which serves as Leader’s tourist information centre.

When she’s not busy taking care of the lawn and flowers in the yard, Eastyn is inside the little caboose waiting for people to stop by during all kinds of weather. Summertime in Saskatchewan provides a wide assortment of weather, which beats down on the little rail car.

Eastyn Jakubowski stands in front of the caboose that serves Leader’s tourist information centre. Photo by Joan Janzen

Inside the caboose, rain sounds like it’s hailing, she explained, and when it’s windy, the caboose tends to rock a little bit. And when it’s hot outside, the little window air conditioner can barely keep up.

But there’s always a continuous stream of visitors who drop by to ask questions. She said it’s surprising how many people stop by as they pass through Leader. And those people come from all over the world.

Just the other day, Easton had some folks from Texas drop in at the tourist booth. And she spoke of tourists from the Netherlands who insisted on taking all the back roads on their way to Saskatoon.

Eastyn’s favourite part about working in a caboose is getting to meet people from so many different places. But it can be a long day for this high school graduate who plans to attend Medicine Hat College in the fall.

Her days of working in a caboose will soon be coming to an end, and next summer, it will be someone else’s turn to find out what it’s like to work in a caboose.