Train Station Inn

I stayed solo in Caboose #5 for one night as part of my birthday weekend. It was a disappointing stay, but let me start with the positives. The young lad who greeted me at reception and escorted me to the caboose was very sweet and respectful. The caboose is very clean and the bed extemely comfortable. It is very close to the village centre and in easy walking distance to shops and Farmer's Market. The caboose however is very, very much in need of TLC. The floorboards are pulling apart, wallpaper has damp and is peeling away in spots and the shower head is the size of a garden hose. The worst though is the musty, moldy, train oil smell in the entrance section that just permeates the room. My throat and lungs got all goopy. It didn't help that it was hot, humid and stormy and I had to keep the windows closed and very noisy, old and a bit dirty air conditioner running until the storm stopped. Once I was able to open the windows, it was a bit better. The pillow cases were washed in a very strongly scented laundry detergent, like Gain or something and it was very overpowering. Perhaps to mask the musty smell. In this day and age of scent-free zones I am surprised at the use of scented products in a hotel. The WiFi is non-existent. The room binder says there are WiFi hot spots, but you have to go to those hot spots , hope it catches and then hope again that it sticks with you back to your room. That is not WiFi. The tv is like 12 inches and from decades prior. The cable cut out because it rained. Not the Inn's fault this last but, but there was some kind of loud I think service vehicle going up and down the road behind the caboose all night long. Finally at 5:30am after all the musty, Gain, truck I abandoned the rest of my birthday plans and headed home. I get the novelty of staying in a caboose, but for $257 I would expect it to be updated and not toxic smelling. I can't speak to the other rooms and I did not use any of the dining, but I would avoid caboose #5. In reading some of the other reviews, the air quality seems to be a "lingering" issue for years.

Here's my story: The Train Station Inn is a rather special place, which my Uncle Joe Labretto & I first came across on our Blue Knights Canada Friendship Weekend road trip in June of 2019. We had always planned to come back; but COVID hit in 2020, and it just wasn't to be, as Uncle Joe passed in August of 2024, before this year's Friendship Weekend re-started the event. At any rate, your "room" at the Inn is actually a train car! Jan & I had Car #5, originally built in 1911 as a boxcar, and converted to a green caboose in 1941, while travelling companions Jay, Tommy & Dawn were in CBCNS 1000, a 1937 boxcar that was converted in 1970. Everyone commented how comfortable the beds were, as well as how different and pleasant the experience was! The train station itself was built in 1887 and was active through 1972. We had dinner in 1938 Dining Car that had originally started out as a 3rd Class Colonist Car. The food and service were both awesome. We also hung out for a bit in Governor General's Car, originally built in 1905 for Governor General Earl ***, also of Earl Gray Tea fame. In today's world, that car would be the equivalent of Air Force One. 😇 Do yourself a BIG favor and go there for the one-of-a-kind experience. Maybe, like me, you'll find yourself going back there. Highly recommended.

We stayed here overnight and what a great night it was. Music and drinks on the beautifully decorated platform, dinner in the dining car which was delicious, then off to bed in caboose #8 which was super comfortable with all the amenities. As a train nerd I was ridiculously excited at the prospect of staying here and it didn’t disappoint in any way.

Ever wanted to sleep on a train? Here’s your chance. This train station and group of cars is a labour of love for its owner and staff. Each car has been renovated and restored to provide a range of accommodation from single/couples to family groups. The staff in the station handle check ins and mind the store. When you check in, you get a personalized tour of the site and your car. Note: People with mobility issues may find entering and exiting the train a challenge. My train (#7) was a single/double. The bed was extremely comfortable and the car was spacious. The washroom was very small and would have been a tight fit for a larger person. The living area was basic. The wifi did not work well at all the entire time I was there. I was unable to use the smart television that was provided to watch any of the streaming services. However, there was a warning about this when I booked my stay. If anything, better wifi would make a huge improvement to the site. There is a public hiking / 4x4 trail along one side of the site which can be quite noisy at times but eases off at the end of the day. The site is popular with tourists who come to see the trains so be prepared for photographers. There is a dining car on site and reservations are recommended. The food is excellent and the experience is unique. Many of the baked goods are prepared on site in a tiny kitchen in one of the cars (amazing!). There is also a coffee shop and gift shop on site. While there, don’t miss taking a ride on the train bus where you will get a 25-30 minute tour of the town and a ride over the old rail bridge. Fun for any age! Overall a lovely and unique experience - well worth the trip.

Even a tent keeps insects out. This very musty smelling allergy haven (caboose 10) lets them in despite our being super careful about leaving the door open. We killed ten flying ants, several regular ants and small beetles and a moth in the course of one evening. This is not including the dead moth that appeared in the coffee pot after I made coffee (very sad indeed). When you wake up with your throat is constricting from how disgusting the train car is to find a dead insect in your coffee, it does not make for good spirits or travel. To be clear, this place is very cool. Our seven year old was happy (and we loved the brewery nearby). But it’s an insult to pay to stay in a place that has no investment in maintaining or improving rooms. None of the curtains covered the windows, and not all windows had curtains. Guess when the sun rises in June in Nova Scotia. Bed was comfortable but a lot of motion transfer. Bedroom gets hot from ac being in main area. My mother in law’s room had ac that didn’t adjust. Their advice; unplug it when it gets too cool. What about when it gets too hot at 2 am and it’s 6 feet up the wall? Seriously? Invest in mini splits. And in your future guests. Dinner servers were friendly but very delayed service (for which they apologized) and dinner was emphatically average tasting, also portions were too small to feed an adult. Gift shop person wouldn’t even look up despite my trying to catch her eye many times. Not typical of our friendly Canadian experience. We are glad we stayed, very very glad we only stayed one night, and will not be back. 6 stars for concept. 2 stars for upkeep and how gross we felt after staying.

The only place to stay in Tatamagouche. We enjoyed our train car, comfortable sleeping area, lounge, bathroom and kitchenette. Dinner at the Train Station Restaurant was good. We enjoyed walking (or biking) on the Trans-Canada Trail, that goes through the property. Tatamagouche Brewing has good beers on tap. Breakfasts at the Chowder House were excellent, a busy place with lots of locals.