Video: Choo Choos Burns

Fire consumes former railway station, restaurant and night club in early evening blaze.

Known by many names, the Miramichi landmark that was at the centre of a somewhat controversial plan by City Council went up in flames tonight and is still burning at this minute.

The Rail House (current name), or Choo Choos as people knew it in the 2000’s, or the Whooper as it was known in the 80’s and 90’s, or a train station on the line between Chatham and Loggieville as it was known for many years prior to that, is soon to be a charred ruin.

Fire crews arrived tonight around 7 pm after flames were reported coming from the caboose entrance.

Owner Francois Hachey arrive on scene around 7:15 pm, and by that time firemen had breached the front door, had a look inside, and were fighting the fire from three positions including with the ladder truck.  Flames from the front of the building were being kept under control, but by 7:30 pm the back of the building was blazing.  Seemed like a loosing battle.

Hundreds of people gathered around the corner to view the fire and take pictures.  Police had streets blocked off from Henderson Street to the SuperValue.

In February 2016 City Council approved a $45,000 payment to Hachey for exclusive rights to view the building and take it off the market for a few months as the City pondered buying it as part of their waterfront redevelopment strategy, a portion of which is being done now with the repairs to Station Wharf.  The repairs to the building were deemed too costly after an inspection, and the deal died a few months later

 

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