Railpictures.ca - A.W. Mooney Photo: Just a shot of eastbound #148 with CN 5620, GCFX 6075 and CN 2521 rolling by the old mill structure at Copetown. But look closer. The Southern US used to be famous for the Harvey House restaurant chain. In Copetown, it was the nowhere near famous for anything, Hobo House. Not sure of the story. It was said these guy(s) dug into the hillside and made a shelter, and it is obvious they got very creative and raided pallets from across the tracks to build their rather elaborate side split shelter. Each time I checked on this place (from a distance) it seemed to expand, until one day I showed up and it was gone. Just a silly memory from Copetown. I’m sure some others who frequented this area would have more to add, or to correct, this story. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

Just a shot of eastbound #148 with CN 5620, GCFX 6075 and CN 2521 rolling by the old mill structure at Copetown.
But look closer. The Southern US used to be famous for the Harvey House restaurant chain. In Copetown, it was the nowhere near famous for anything, Hobo House.
Not sure of the story. It was said these guy(s) dug into the hillside and made a shelter, and it is obvious they got very creative and raided pallets from across the tracks to build their rather elaborate side split shelter. Each time I checked on this place (from a distance) it seemed to expand, until one day I showed up and it was gone.
Just a silly memory from Copetown.
I'm sure some others who frequented this area would have more to add, or to correct, this story.

Caption: Just a shot of eastbound #148 with CN 5620, GCFX 6075 and CN 2521 rolling by the old mill structure at Copetown.But look closer. The Southern US used to be famous for the Harvey House restaurant chain. In Copetown, it was the nowhere near famous for anything, Hobo House.Not sure of the story. It was said these guy(s) dug into the hillside and made a shelter, and it is obvious they got very creative and raided pallets from across the tracks to build their rather elaborate side split shelter. Each time I checked on this place (from a distance) it seemed to expand, until one day I showed up and it was gone.Just a silly memory from Copetown.I'm sure some others who frequented this area would have more to add, or to correct, this story.

Photographer:	A.W. Mooney [2308] (more) (contact)
Date:	02/02/2006 (search)
Railway:	Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks:	CN 5620 (search)
Train Symbol:	#148 (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	CN Dundas sub. (search)
City/Town:	Copetown (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=58448

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Photo ID: 57118

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2 Comments

Ian Malenfant-Picard

February 19, 2026 at 3:20 pm

Interesting story, maybe its a playground of sorts? Looks very unusual for a makeshift shelter.
awmooney

February 19, 2026 at 5:41 pm

I dunno, Ian. I’m just going by what I heard from talking with a few people about it back then. Next to the mill on the side I shot from was a place where fans gathered at times. I was told they dug out a bit of shelter there and then started the pallet work to shore up the walls. I admit it was totally weird. I could NOT see neighbourhood kids attempting something like that, especially on CN land. There are NO homes on that side of the tracks.

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Ian Malenfant-Picard

February 19, 2026 at 3:20 pm

Interesting story, maybe its a playground of sorts? Looks very unusual for a makeshift shelter.

awmooney

February 19, 2026 at 5:41 pm

I dunno, Ian. I’m just going by what I heard from talking with a few people about it back then. Next to the mill on the side I shot from was a place where fans gathered at times. I was told they dug out a bit of shelter there and then started the pallet work to shore up the walls. I admit it was totally weird. I could NOT see neighbourhood kids attempting something like that, especially on CN land. There are NO homes on that side of the tracks.