Happy holidays! As in past years, we’re looking back on 2021 in review. Keep reading to see what projects our amazing volunteers accomplished, learn about new museum initiatives, and take a peek at our plans for 2022.
Volunteers at Work
Toronto Railway Museum is a volunteer-run organization! Therefore, we have a great crew of volunteers who assist staff and support the Museum in a wide range of activities. For instance, activities range from restoration of the large artifacts to event support and exhibit development.
We celebrated National Volunteer Week in April and chatted with volunteers Jacqueline Tyler and Melissa Nsiah about their work at TRM. Learn more about Melissa’s work developing our Friends of TRM membership program, which launched this past spring. Learn more about becoming a member here! Jacqueline’s support for our online lecture series. Additionally, we took a peek behind the scenes at what goes into creating an exhibit with volunteer Carly Wolowich.
A big thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who serve on the Marketing, Events, and Donations Committees – we couldn’t do it without you! While much of their work takes place behind the scenes, their efforts are essential to keeping TRM on track.
At the Farmers’ Market
When our hard-working volunteers aren’t busy planning new attractions, restoring our exhibits, and preparing new displays for the next season, you can find them at the Farmers’ Market. Above all, stop by our booth at the Roundhouse Park Farmers’ Market to learn more about the museum from the folks that keep our volunteer-run organization going!
The Roundhouse Farmers’ Market brings fresh, local food to the historic setting of Roundhouse Park every Sunday from 11:00am until 3:00pm. Meanwhile, between November-April, the market is located indoors next door to the museum in Steam Whistle’s Locomotive Hall (Stall 10).
Restoration This Year
After many months, it was wonderful to see the return of our restoration volunteers this year! A limited number of volunteers were able to return working onsite. To clarify, restoration volunteers perform the various tasks necessary for the restoration of Museum artifacts as well as maintenance and repairs on equipment and exhibits. This year, we saw almost 20% more volunteer hours logged compared to 2020! We are so grateful for our team.
Importantly, restoration and maintenance projects included our CN flatcar, 1929 solarium-lounge car Cape Race, CP box car, and our centre-cab switching locomotive, No. 1. Additionally, a lot of work was put into Nova Scotia inside the museum. Volunteers continue to work on fine-tuning the entrance into the car. Keep an eye out as volunteers prepare a new exhibit space around the car.
Looking to give back in 2022? Join our volunteer team! In other words, browse our current remote and in-person volunteer opportunities here. You can also email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@trha.ca for more information.
At the Museum
After a 220 day closure we reopened in July offering outdoor guided tours. Then the museum space in Stall 17 and Miniature Train returned later that month for visitors and riders. We were thrilled to welcome 4,848 passengers aboard the Miniature Train ride this year!
This fall we debuted two new exhibits. “George Paginton: Life and Work” is a temporary exhibition of the title artist’s work featuring the Toronto rail lands. The exhibit is on view into 2022. Additionally, “Roundhouse ‘Round the Clock” is on permanent display. It tells stories of the people who kept the John Street Roundhouse running like a well-oiled machine. Check out the exhibit next time you’re at the museum to learn more about the coach cleaners, sleeping car porters, supervisors, and switch operators employed at the roundhouse.
Support for Museum Programming
In case you missed it, we are thrilled to announce that we have received a Community Building Fund – Operating Stream grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation! Consequently, this support will help us continue to operate the museum. As a result, it will assist with costs related to developing and presenting online programming – like our online lecture series. Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting the museum as we bring people together – both in-person and online – through Toronto’s rail history. Keep an eye on our events calendar for the next lecture in our Railway Ties series.
On the Twelfth Train of Christmas
Thank you for supporting the Toronto Railway Museum during this unpredictable year! As a charitable non-profit, the Toronto Railway Museum relies on revenue from admissions, Mini Train tickets, and donations. This holiday season, help us collect all 12 Trains of Christmas; See all 12 trains and donate today here.
Stay connected! Sign up for the Toronto Railway Museum newsletter to hear about museum news, upcoming events, and stories from Toronto’s railway history. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gdIPLn
I’m new to the volunteer program with an extensive background in engineering and railway operations. It’s my pleasure and privilege to assist in representing this incredibly important project. Best regards to all participants.
Robert