Welcome to the TRM 2022 year in review! Keep reading to see what our amazing volunteers accomplished this year, plus get an early peek at some of our plans for 2023.
Looking Back on Volunteer Accomplishments
Toronto Railway Museum is a volunteer-run organization! Volunteers are essential to the museum’s operations and we are so lucky to have such an amazing team! We have a great crew of volunteers who assist staff and support the museum in a wide range of activities.
A big thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who are part of the Marketing, School Programming, Operations, Donations, Events, Collections Management Strategy, and Information Systems/Technology Committees. Thank you to the volunteers who are members of the Attractions Evolution Planning, History, Museum Expansion, Toronto Rail Lands Exhibit, Finance, HR, Simulations, and Restoration teams. While much of these volunteers’ work takes place behind the scenes, their efforts are essential to keeping TRM on track.
National Volunteer Week
Earlier this year, we celebrated National Volunteer week in April and spoke with two members of our volunteer team: Doug M. and Carly W. Doug shared insights to his experience working on the restoration team and Carly highlighted the work she does on exhibition and curatorial projects.
Doors Open Toronto
We had a triumphant start to our summer season with the return of Doors Open Toronto in-person. More than 25 volunteers welcomed 2,500 visitors over the weekend and kicked off the summer of 2022!
Restoration
Cape Race
After months of hard work, the restoration of the sleeping compartments in CPR Cape Race are one step closer to being complete. The compartments were sufficiently complete enough to be used on Roundhouse Park tours this summer. Visitors were able to see the completed and furnished steward’s compartment.
Original fixtures have been carefully reinstalled in the car and the meticulous repair work done to the wooden elements of this compartment by our volunteers.
Concurrent to the restoration of the steward’s compartment, our volunteers have also been restoring the double compartment next to the steward’s compartment. These compartments will show a daytime setup and a nighttime setup respectively. Consequently, work will continue on these compartments in the coming weeks. A big thank you goes to Len S. and Neville F. for their close involvement in this project.
Nova Scotia
At the beginning of the year, restoration volunteers worked extensively on recladding the exterior of 1896 parlour car, Nova Scotia. Then volunteers painted the undercarriage and trucks, and added an accessible ramp to provide access to the new exhibit space alongside the car.
Work is ongoing on the sides of the car to repair the wooden window frames, all to give the appearance of a level window fixture. Finally, the remnants for the car’s “roof deck” (from its time as a part of the Ossawippi Express restaurant complex) are being removed carefully.
Locomotives on the Move
Rolling stock moves are one of the ways museum volunteers bring Toronto’s railway heritage to life! Although the Roundhouse hasn’t been operational in almost thirty years, our volunteers perform the same tasks many of the workers of John Street once did. Photos by volunteer Laura Agudelo Montoya.
At the Toronto Railway Museum
Summer Operations
Thanks to our amazing summer staff team, guided tours ran daily, visits to the museum were possible, and the Mini Train was once again travelling around Roundhouse Park throughout the summer. We’re so grateful for the excellent team that helped us carry out our summer season.
Exhibits
Digital Exhibit
In the spring, students from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information developed and launched a new digital exhibit. Consequently, Getting Back on Track tells real stories from Ontario’s railway passengers – like you! Wondering where the future of passenger rail travel is going? Visit the online exhibit.
Museum Exhibit Space
There have been some changes to our exhibit space this year! Museum restoration volunteers have made amazing progress on the sides of Nova Scotia. After re-cladding and painting the car, volunteers restored the inspection pit underneath the car. The pit is original from when the Roundhouse was active. Volunteers also created a new exhibit walkway space alongside the car, which is now open to visitors.
Museum Store Returns Thanks to Resilient Communities Fund
In case you missed it, we were thrilled to announce our receipt of a Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. After two years of hibernation, the museum store in Don Station reopened! Stop by during museum hours to explore gifts, books, and more. We’re very grateful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support for the museum store revitalization through this fund. Thank you!
Find out more about the museum store on the blog!
Hello 2023!
Thank you so much for your support during this year! As a charitable non-profit, the Toronto Railway Museum relies on revenue from admissions, Mini Train tickets, and donations. Whether you follow along online on social media, join us at the museum in-person, or show your support during our fundraising campaigns, we couldn’t do it without you. Wishing you all the best for the rest of 2022. We can’t wait to welcome you at the museum in 2023!
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