Toronto Railway Museum

Royal Train Tours of Canada in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
2022-05-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us! “Royal Trains Tours of Canada in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II” on May 19th at 7 pm EST.
We’re so excited to announce Royal Train Tours of Canada in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II, our upcoming online lecture! Author and royal historian Dr. Carolyn Harris will profile our country’s rich royal ties to traveling by rail with an overview of royal tours of Canada.
Join us on May 19 online for the next lecture in our 2022 series: Royal Trains Tours of Canada in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Even with train travel no longer central to royal tours as air travel took centre stage, railway history continued to be part of Canadian royal tours including at Expo 67 and the silver jubilee in 1977.
On May 19, join the Toronto Railway Museum and Dr. Carolyn Harris for an online lecture about the Queen’s tours of Canada. Carolyn will talk about the Queen’s tours of Canada on railway.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne in 1952. The 1950s were a period of iconic royal train tours of Canada as Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip made their first official visit to Canada in 1951 and then Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip undertook their longest visit to Canada in 1959, traveling to all the provinces and territories of the time. Royal tours were an opportunity for members of the royal family to connect with Canadians from all walks of life and engage with Canadian culture and institutions. Canadian royal tours were also an opportunity for Canadians to discuss and debate the future of the monarchy in Canada.
Although train travel across Canada was no longer central to royal tours of Canada after the 1950s as air travel took centre stage, short royal train journeys and engagement with railway history continued to be part of Canadian royal tours as the Queen rode the monorail train at Expo 67, and took a historic silver jubilee train journey from Ottawa to Wakefield, Quebec in 1977. William and Catherine visited the White Pass steam train in Carcross, Yukon during their most recent Canadian tour in 2016.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required.

Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 8:30pm EST.

ABOUT CAROLYN HARRIS
Dr. Carolyn Harris is an instructor in history at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. She received her Ph.D in European history from Queen’s University in 2012. Her writing concerning the history of monarchy in the UK, Europe, and Canada has appeared in numerous publications including the Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Smithsonian Magazine and the BBC History Magazine, and she is the author of 3 books: Magna Carta and Its Gifts to Canada, Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette and Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting. She is currently co-editing a book series about royal consorts, English Consorts: Power, Influence, Dynasty. She lives in Toronto.

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

Online Lecture: The Missing Millionaire
2022-04-21 20:00 - 21:30
Join us! “The Missing Millionaire: The Ambrose Small Saga”. The next lecture event will be held on April 21st at 8pm EST.

On April 21, join the Toronto Railway Museum and Katie Daubs for an online lecture about the Small Mystery. Daubs will talk about the stranger-than-fiction characters in the Ambrose Small saga, and the development of Toronto as the drama around his disappearance unfolded. The lecture will bring you back to December 1919 and the “extraordinary unsolved mystery”.

At that time, the railway was central to Small’s business, as traveling shows of the era sent all of their actors, props, and scenery by rail. It was expensive for theatre companies, and Daubs will explain how Small used that to his advantage as he built a cross-Ontario network of theatres, connected by rail.

TICKETS
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required. Click here to register.

Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at 8pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 9:30pm EST.

ABOUT KATIE DAUBS
Katie Daubs is a journalist and a feature writer at the Toronto Star, where she writes about many topics, including local history. Before joining the Star, she worked at the Ottawa Citizen and she was a graduate of Carleton University. The Missing Millionaire is her first book, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing (Best Non-Fiction Book) and the 2020 Toronto Book Awards.
Honours and Awards:

Nomination — National Newspaper Award, Long Feature (2017)
Winner — William Southam Journalism Fellowship (2016)
Nomination — National Newspaper Award, Long Feature (2015)
Nomination — National Newspaper Award, Multimedia Feature (2014)
Winner — National Newspaper Award, Presentation (2012)
Winner — Diane King-Stuemer Fellowship (2008)

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

Easter Egg Hunt
2022-04-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
On April 16, join the Toronto Railway Museum to join in a special hunt. Families and children of all ages will enjoy the fun museum activities and egg hunt.

Admission
Admission to the Easter Egg Hunt is free. Museum admission tickets should be pre-booked in advance.
Proof of vaccination and face masks are required at the entrance.
Some activities require museum admission.

About this event
The Toronto Railway Museum is happy to bring back our popular Easter Egg Hunt!
At this event, you will search Roundhouse Park for one of our hidden Easter eggs. When you find it, bring it to the museum for your special prize!

We are so excited to welcome you to Toronto Railway Museum and hope you’ve enjoyed the event.

SAFETY
The safety and well-being of our visitors, volunteers, and museum staff are our highest priority. While we look forward to welcoming you back, additional health and safety precautions are in place. We ask that visitors stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are considered to be in a high-risk category. Before visiting, please use Ontario Health’s self-assessment tool available here.

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination: All visitors aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination must be provided to enter the Museum. Click here for more information. Please note that these requirements will be maintained after March 21st.

We require all staff and visitors to wear a mask. We require all visitors to wear a non-medical mask or face covering if they are able. We also ask that visitors frequently wash or sanitize hands and maintain physical distancing inside and outside of the museum and on tours. We thank our visitors in advance for complying with these new modifications. Learn more about the ways we’re working to provide a safe museum experience here. Please note that these requirements will be maintained after March 21st.

GETTING HERE
TRANSIT:
Line 1, Union Station: Exit Union Station onto Front Street West. Next, turn left and walk along Front Street West until you reach York Street. At York Street, turn left and walk towards Bremner Boulevard. At Bremner Boulevard, turn right, and walk into Roundhouse Park.
509/510 Harbourfront/Spadina streetcar, Harbourfront Centre Stop: Get off of the streetcar at Harbourfront Centre, walk towards Lower Simcoe St. and turn right. Walk up to Bremner Blvd and turn left, walking towards Roundhouse Park.
PARKING:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre: The Metro Toronto Convention Centre has two parking lots in our area. The South Parking Lot is conveniently located underneath Roundhouse Park. Special parking rates are available during regular parkade operations (“Event Parking” rates not in effect) through a parking pass add-on. Find it when you purchase museum admission through Eventbrite here.

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum is a registered charity dedicated to sharing the stories of Toronto’s railways. By visiting and attending events, you’re supporting our efforts in areas like restoration and education. To learn more about the ways you can support the museum, visit TorontoRailwayMuseum.com/Support.

Holiday Weekend Hours
2022-04-15 12:00 - 2022-04-17 17:00
Holiday Weekend Hours
Easter Weekend Hours:
Friday, April 15: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Saturday, April 16: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, April 17: Open 12:00-5:00pm

Monday, April 18: Closed
Tuesday, April 19: Closed

Regular hours resume Wednesday, April 20.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on Easter weekend. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits or browse our most popular gift shop items. The gift shop at Don Station remains closed. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the museum! Masks and proof of vaccination are mandatory and museum capacity is limited. Please review our reopening announcement prior to your visit. Museum admission tickets should be pre-booked in advance.

Online Lecture: Diversity and Inclusion - Choose to Change
2022-03-17 19:00 - 20:30
Corina Moore, CEO of Ontario Northland, is joining us for an online lecture on March 17!

On Thursday, March 17, join the Toronto Railway Museum and Corina Moore for an online lecture. Corina Moore will present Diversity and Inclusion: Choose to Change, featuring her own journey to becoming the first woman President and CEO of Ontario Northland. Moore’s presentation will highlight women in the railway industry, including her own career journey, the advantages of having a diverse team, and how to drive long-term change.

TICKETS
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required. REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE.

Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 8:30pm EST.

ABOUT CORINA MOORE
As Ontario Northland’s President and CEO, Corina has shaped a resilient organization that is focused on delivering best-in-class transportation throughout Ontario.
Recognized as an inspirational leader and catalyst for change, Corina has shifted the business lines of Ontario Northland to be data-driven, customer-focused, lean, and strategic. She has cultivated a team that is focused on building integrated and impactful transportation services, including rail freight, passenger rail, motor coach transportation, rail repair/remanufacturing services and a boutique hotel.

Since taking the helm of the organization in 2014, revenues have increased, costs have been significantly contained, and services have been reimagined and expanded. New and diverse customers within each business line now provide long-term security for employees and communities. She has attracted confidence and investment, most notably a robust $500 million capital program and a motor coach service expansion that reaches from Ottawa to Winnipeg (an additional 700,000 km per year).

Corina passionately and tirelessly promotes the benefits of an integrated and seamless transportation network that connects rural Ontario to major centres across North America, which in turn has positive impacts on economic development, tourism, road safety, the environment, and quality of life. She frequently speaks at conferences and gatherings on organizational change, authentic leadership and transportation.

Corina has many notable achievements including:

Made the list of Canada’s top 100 most powerful women. She is one of three recipients in the Most Powerful CEO category. (2021)
First woman President and CEO of Ontario Northland since its inception in 1902 and the first woman President of a Canadian Railway. (2014)
Appointed as an Honorary Colonel for the Canadian Armed Forces, 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron. (2020)
Recognized by Progressive Railroading and the League of Railway Women as North America’s Outstanding Woman of the Year. (2018)
First woman to be appointed to the Railway Association of Canada’s Board of Directors since inception in 1917. (2017)
Selected by Railway Age as one of ten women who are visionaries in the rail industry in North America. The first woman to appear on the front cover of Railway Age Magazine since its inception in 1856. (2017)
Influential Woman of the Year by Northern Ontario Business. (2017)

Corina is a graduate of the University of Waterloo in Systems Design Engineering and Business Administration and Management.

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

Family Day Long Weekend Hours
2022-02-19 12:00 - 2022-02-21 17:00
Family Day Weekend Hours:
Saturday, February 19: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, February 20: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, February 21: Open 12:00-5:00pm

Tuesday, February 22: Closed
Wednesday, February 23: Closed

Regular hours resume on Thursday, February 24

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on Family Day and closed from February 22 to 23. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits or browse our most popular gift shop items. The gift shop at Don Station remains closed. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the museum! Masks and proof of vaccination are mandatory and museum capacity is limited. Please review our reopening announcement prior to your visit. Museum admission tickets should be pre-booked in advance.

Online Lecture - Trains in the Movies: Behind the Scenes of Iron Road
2022-02-17 19:00 - 20:30
Lights, camera, action! Go behind the scenes of the making of the film Iron Road with producer Anne Tait.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE TICKET
On Thursday, February 17, join the Toronto Railway Museum and Anne Tait for an online lecture featuring the award-winning Iron Road. Iron Road is an epic, action-packed movie about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental railway, told through a taboo love story. Producer Anne Tait will take you behind the scenes and share over 60 rare, on-location photos, tell the exciting story of making the movie, and answer all your questions about the film.
Make sure you watch the film before the event! Watch for FREE on CBC Gem here gem.cbc.ca/media/iron-road/s01e01, or watch the trailer youtube.com/watch?v=2rO7PE2JMiQ.
TICKETS
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required. Get your ticket here.
Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 8:30pm EST.
Attendees will also have a chance to win a signed copy of the book Li Jun and the Iron Road, based on the movie, with 31 colour shots from the film, autographed by Anne Tait, the co-author. More information about the book is available here.
ABOUT ANNE TAIT
Anne Tait is a film producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, broadcaster, and casting director. Tait produced the ground-breaking movie Iron Road, about the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rocky Mountains, told through a taboo love story. She then wrote the novel Li Jun and the Iron Road, with 30 colour shots from the movie. It won two Canadian Book Awards.
Anne has cast many Canadian & U.S. movies and TV series, including Anne of Green Gables, Road to Avonlea, Margaret’s Museum, Wind at My Back, Terminator 2, the Composers, Inventors & Artists series (9 Emmy nominations), Ready or Not, Goosebumps (Ryan Gosling’s first role), and a Muppets show.
Anne Tait was casting director for the Stratford Festival and for Mirvish stage shows, and she hosted a TV series and her own radio show for CBC. Anne’s plays have been produced on 12 Irish and Canadian stages and on CBC Radio. Her awards include People’s Choice and Best Picture from film festivals in Rome, the D.R. and Brantford, plus Gemini & Leo awards, 3 Emmy nominations, the Female Eye Film Festival’s Career Achievement and Victoria College, U of T’s Distinguished Alumna Award, plus two Canadian Best Book awards.

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

Online Lecture: Dining on the Train
2022-01-20 19:00 - 20:30
Dining on the Train: From Soot to Soufflé
Thursday, January 20 7:00-8:00 PM (ET)
Get your free ticket here!
Order up! Join us for our next online lecture, “Dining on a Train: From Soot to Soufflé”, on January 20.

On January 20, join the Toronto Railway Museum and James D. Porterfield at the table for an online lecture about railway dining. James will explore how feeding railway passengers evolved from road-kill (!) into five-star dining experiences. Bring your appetite for railway history as we delve into how these restaurants on wheels operate.

Feeding passengers was a problem for railroads almost from their inception. In this presentation, a talk with slides and selected items to display, Jim Porterfield, author of DINING BY RAIL: The History and Recipes of America’s Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine, offers an informative and humorous account of how that practice developed over time. The online lecture will be accompanied by a description of menu items selected at random by guests, discussion of five items you likely have in your kitchen that originated in a dining car, and a Q&A session. An extensive bibliography of books and related items devoted to rail dining, plus two free recipes, will be made available to lecture attendees.

TICKETS
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required.
Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in a post-lecture Q&A. The event will begin at 7pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 8pm EST.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE
ABOUT JAMES D. PORTERFIELD
James D. Porterfield is an author whose books include Dining by Rail: The History and the Recipes from America’s Golden Age of Railroad Cuisine, now 29 years in print. He edited and introduced Jack Orr’s acclaimed biography of O. P. Orr, Set Up Running, about a Pennsylvania Railroad engineman from 1904 to 1949, and Harry Bedwell’s classic railroad novel, The Boomer: A Story of the Rails. Jim is a Contributing Editor for Railfan & Railroad magazine. His monthly column, “On the Menu,” describes dinner trains and aspects of rail heritage preservation, and his annual feature is devoted to railroad art. Jim has contributed to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s quarterly magazine and website, and served as a website host for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Gozaic travel division. A popular presenter to both rail history groups and the general public, he is also an occasional guest on “Let’s Talk Travel,” a regional radio and Podcast talk show devoted to travel destinations.

A graduate of what is now Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Jim was an adjunct professor in marketing at Penn State University’s main campus for 24 years, and today serves as the Director of the Railroad Heritage & Tourism Institute, an educational support organization for the railroad heritage industry, and of the American Society of Railway Artists.

ABOUT THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

Exhibit Survey - We want to hear from you!
2022-01-09 - 2022-02-16
“Getting Back on Track” Digital Exhibition
Click here to participate
“Getting Back on Track: The Changing Role of Passenger Rail in Southern Ontario” is a digital exhibition project created by four Master of Museum Studies students at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, in collaboration with the Toronto Railway Museum.
This interactive exhibition will share stories of railway passengers across Southern Ontario. Virtual visitors of all ages will explore the fluctuating growth of Ontario’s railways and how they’re likely to evolve in the future.
Through this survey we hope to hear diverse passenger perspectives on this changing role – that’s where you come in! We would like to hear about your stories relating to passenger rail in Southern Ontario, focusing on the 1970s – present day.
Unless otherwise indicated, please disregard any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic when considering your ridership habits.
Note: For the purposes of this exhibition, “passenger rail” includes commuter and intercity rail (GO Transit, VIA Rail, etc.). There is no affiliation between this project and Metrolinx, VIA Rail, or any other public or private railway entities. No survey responses or contact information will be shared with any external parties.
Click here to participate

Holiday Hours
2021-12-24 08:00 - 2022-01-01 17:00
Effective December 24, the Toronto Railway Museum will remain closed until January 2nd (or until further notice) due to limited staff availability. We are sorry for the inconvenience, please stay tuned for more information regarding the closure. Learn more here.

Online Lecture: Christmas and the Railways
2021-12-16 20:00 - 21:00
On December 16th, join the Toronto Railway Museum for its final presentation in the 2021 online lecture series! If you’ve ever wondered why trains are such a common sight around the holidays, or you remember riding a train during the holiday season yourself, then this is a must-see presentation.
Led by our Museum’s historians, we will take you on a journey to see how important trains and the railways are to the holiday season. This lecture will highlight how and why model trains were an everyday sight at your local department store during the holidays. We will show how the railway companies and stations decorated for the holidays in the hopes of spreading seasonal cheer amongst the riders. You will also learn how trains helped make Christmas possible in a variety of ways, like how express trains delivered both people and parcels in record time for the holidays!
Following the presentation, the attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with our presenters, ask questions, and share their favorite memories of trains during the holidays.
Admission to this event is free of charge, and the Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund in making this possible. More information on the OTF’s Community Building Fund is available here.
Registration is now open. Click here to register.

Event header image courtesy of volunteer Stephen Gardiner, 2019.

Christmas at the Roundhouse
2021-12-12 11:00 - 15:00 | Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, m5v3m9, Canada
Christmas at the Roundhouse

Get a taste of Christmas cheer at the Roundhouse on December 12!

On December 12, join the Toronto Railway Museum at the Roundhouse Farmers’ Market to enjoy a set of Christmas performances that will brighten the hearts of young and old! Capture the moment with a Christmas picture next to our 1906 HK Porter locomotive, sip a festive drink, and visit the Toronto Railway Museum booth.

Go further and stop by the Museum in Stall 17 of the Roundhouse, explore exhibits, create your own souvenir through our craft train activity, and climb aboard an 1896 wooden parlour car!

Admission

Admission to the Roundhouse Farmers’ Market is free.
The market is located inside Locomotive Hall in Bay 10 at the Steam Whistle Brewery – 255 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON M5V 3M9.
Proof of vaccination is required at the entrance.
Some activities require museum admission.
About the Roundhouse Farmers’ Market

The new farmers’ market at the Roundhouse has all the best elements of an ageless market including seasonal farm goods and produce as well as a lot of creative ways to use them. Locally produced storage veg, meat, honey, pickles, Niagara sourdough breads and baking, pastured eggs and chicken, maple syrup, even ethically sourced fish shipped by rail from Nova Scotia and a different ethical crafter each week. Ontario’s food shed is rich and diverse so our market is too! There’s no two markets alike, just always lots of good food and variety in a gorgeous heritage building with good coffee and music and so much to see.

About the Toronto Railway Museum

The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Rotary Toronto Tree of Remembrance
2021-12-11 - 2021-12-24 | Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, m5v3m9, Canada
Rotary Tree of Remembrance
Starting this Saturday, December 11, 2021, The Rotary Toronto Tree of Remembrance will be set up in downtown Toronto in Roundhouse Park, come visit them at the tree or click here to donate: https://linktr.ee/RotaryToronto

Forget Me Not – Rotary Toronto Tree of Remembrance Donation

After selecting your donation amount, you will be asked to tell us “What do you want your ribbon to say” and they will write their name or a message and they will place a ribbon on the Tree of Remembrance on your behalf.
Donated funds will go to help support charitable organizations in the City of Toronto whose work improves the quality of life of seniors, youth and children, the marginalized and the Indigenous Community.

George Paginton: Life and Work (Online Lecture)
2021-11-18 20:00 - 21:30
George Paginton: Life and Work

Join us for our next online lecture, “George Paginton: Life and Work”, on November 18!
RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKET HERE
On November 18th, join the Toronto Railway Museum for the eighth installment in our Railway Ties lecture series. We are happy to partner with the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) to present George Paginton: Life and Work on November 18th at 8 pm.

Inspired by the Canadian landscape, including the industrial scenes of Toronto’s Rail Lands, George Paginton’s direct, truthful and rugged depiction of Canada served him as a personal escape. A younger contemporary of the famed Group of Seven, his art shares in their painterly aspirations and has brought him in close proximity to their artistic milieu including the Studio Building in which some of the members shared working space. This informative lecture, led by Art Appraiser Kelly Juhasz and Curator Sharona Adamowicz-Clements, will provide an overview of Paginton’s life and work with a focus on his landscape and railway work, and will consider the impact of his secret past as a British Home Child on his artistic persona.

Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the presenters and Toronto Railway Museum historians in a live Q&A session.

Tickets
Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required.

Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenters and museum historians in our post-lecture Q&A. Ticket holders also have a chance to win a copy of George Paginton: Painting a Nation, courtesy of PAMA.

About Kelly Juhasz

Kelly Juhasz is an Accredited Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) and President of the Canadian Chapter. Kelly is a member of ISA’s Private Client Services Group, a group of qualified appraisers who have completed specialized training and hold senior level industry experience in dealing with High Net Worth Individuals. She was the winner of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award – Fine Art and the 2017 ISA Rising Leader award.

Kelly holds a Master of Information Studies, Archival Science from the University of Toronto and a BA (Hons), Art History from the University of Ottawa (partially completed at the University of Siena, Italy). She also holds a Master’s specialization in Knowledge Media Design, University of Toronto; a BA, Communications, University of Ottawa; and a Marketing Diploma from the Academy of Design.

Kelly works with the family of George Paginton to organize exhibitions, arrange for donations to Canadian institutions and museums, and represents the sale of paintings and sketches through private galleries across Canada.

About Sharona Adamowicz-Clements

Sharona Adamowicz-Clements (M.A., Art History) is an arts professional with over twenty years of experience in the field of Canadian Art. She is the Curator of Art at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives in Brampton. Previously she had worked as Curator at the McMichael Canadian art Collection in Kleinburg. Over the course of her career, she has organized and managed more than sixty historical and contemporary art exhibitions and has developed a keen interest in discovering new and untapped talent. She is the author of several publications including Diana Thorneycroft: Canada, Myth and History; Karine Giboulo: Through the Eyes of the Groundhog; Sarah Anne Johnson: Field Trip; and more recently, cowriter of George Paginton: Painting A Nation.

About PAMA

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is a place to explore and learn about Peel Region. Its mandate is to be an accessible and safe space for the diverse communities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga to come together and celebrate arts, culture and heritage. PAMA strives to be a place where Region of Peel communities see themselves reflected and actively contribute to building a “Community for Life”.

Throughout the year, PAMA offers a variety of exhibitions, workshops and programs for all ages. Currently, it is undergoing a significant construction project, and will remain closed until early 2022 but continues to offer virtual exhibitions and online programming.

PAMA is located at 9 Wellington Street, East in Brampton. Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn more.

Media Contact:
Erin Fernandes | Marketing Coordinator, PAMA | M: 416-312-3425 | Erin.fernandes@peelregion.ca

About the Toronto Railway Museum

The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

The Toronto Railway Museum would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Community Building Fund. More information is available here.

We would also like to thank the family of George Paginton for the gift of seven paintings and six sketches of the Roundhouse and Toronto rail yards.

George Paginton: Life and Work (Exhibit)
2021-11-18 12:00 - 2022-08-28 17:00 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
George Paginton: Life and Work
The Toronto Railway Museum’s George Paginton exhibit features both paintings and pencil sketches of the artist.
Artist George Paginton was inspired by the industrial landscape – including the Toronto rail lands. The exhibit is included in museum admission. The exhibition is on display until Summer 2022.
About the George Paginton Exhibit
The Toronto Railway Museum’s George Paginton exhibit features both paintings and pencil sketches of the artist.
Inspired by the Canadian landscape, including the industrial scenes of Toronto’s Rail Lands, George Paginton’s direct, truthful and rugged depiction of Canada served him as a personal escape. A younger contemporary of the famed Group of Seven, his art shares in their painterly aspirations and has brought him in close proximity to their artistic milieu including the Studio Building in which some of the members shared working space.
The exhibit is on view in Stall 17 of the museum inside of the 1896 parlour car, Nova Scotia. Plan your visit or browse tickets.

Learn more about the making of the exhibit on our blog!

Through the Window of a Train: Online Lecture
2021-10-20 20:00 - 21:30
Through the Window of a Train: Hilarious, Hazardous, and Historical Memories from the Steam Era

Join us for our next online lecture, “Through the Window of a Train”, on October 20!

Join us on Wednesday October 20 (8 pm EST/ 7 pm CST) for the next online lecture in our 2021 online series. If you’ve ever been curious about the lives of people on board a moving train, or wanted to take a nostalgic trip back to the steam era, then you won’t want to miss this presentation!

Relive hilarious, hazardous, historical, and romantic moments as Barbara Lange reads a selection of short stories from Through the Window of a Train: A Canadian Railway Anthology (Borealis Press). Get a glimpse into the lives of railway workers, railway families, and train travelers from the bygone steam era when railways reigned supreme.

Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the presenter and Toronto Railway Museum historians in a live Q&A session.

Tickets
Tickets are $15 (+HST and fees). Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenter and museum historians in our post-lecture Q&A. Ticket holders will also receive 1 adult ticket to the Toronto Railway Museum (valid until 12/31/2022) and have a chance to win one of several prizes. Stay tuned for details.

About Barbara Lange
Barbara Lange grew up in a railway family in England. Her father worked for British Railways. Train trips meant visits to relatives or friends, discovering new destinations, travelling to school, or a way to reach her office job in London. Most treasured memories were annual family holidays by train to England’s beaches.

After immigration to Canada, her curiosity about life surrounding Canada’s railways piqued, especially when she landed in Toronto in 1978 and stepped on board VIA’s flagship train The Canadian to complete her journey to Winnipeg. Train travel does not feature in daily life for most Winnipeggers as distances are too great. To help fill the void that she felt, Barbara became a member of the Winnipeg Railway Museum and loved to breathe in that familiar “railway” smell. She also enjoyed riding The Vintage Locomotive Society’s historic tourist train The Prairie Dog Central.

But the idea of collecting railway memories was never far from her mind. She interviewed people whenever she and husband, Larry Lange, a CN carman from the Transcona Repair and Maintenance Shops, travelled across Canada by train. In collaboration with 30 other writers, Through the Window of a Train: A Canadian Railway Anthology (Borealis Press) was published. Soon after its release in 2010 VIA Rail Canada included it in their souvenir selection, thus realizing Barbara’s dream for the book as a travel companion.

In 2019, CN celebrated CN100, its 100th anniversary, and published “100 Years of Building a Legacy Together” featuring memories, photographs, drawings, and historical material from a wide selection of sources. Several quotes from “Through the Window of a Train: A Canadian Railway Anthology” and Barbara’s second book “Memories of the Moonlight Special and Grand Beach Train Era” are included.

Another exciting CN100 event was CN’s Moving Celebration tour, a large-scale “showstopper” train which stopped in Quebec City, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Regina in 2019, and New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago, Ottawa, Moncton, Toronto and Montreal in 2020. Barbara was thrilled to discover both her books in the “book box container” display.

About the Toronto Railway Museum
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

Roundhouse Trivia
2021-10-15
To celebrate the John Street Roundhouse’s 92 anniversary, join us for a game of Roundhouse trivia through our Instagram stories. This trivia game will be virtual and held on Instagram.
On October 15, 1929, Canadian Pacific Railway’s John Street Roundhouse officially opened. How well do you know the Roundhouse? Find out on Friday, October 15 at 11:00am (ET). Visit our Instagram page and get ready to play Roundhouse trivia on our Instagram stories!
Want to learn more about the John Street Roundhouse? Plan your visit to the museum, or read more on our blog.

An aerial view of the CPR John Street Roundhouse Complex in the mid-1970’s. Courtesy of the Helmut G. Osterman Collection.

Thanksgiving Hours
2021-10-11 08:00 - 2021-10-13 17:00
Please note the Toronto Railway Museum’s Thanksgiving hours:
Thanksgiving Hours:
Saturday, October 9: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, October 10: Open 12:00-5:00pm

Monday, October 11: Closed
Tuesday, October 12: Closed
Wednesday, October 13: Closed

Regular hours resume on Thursday, October 14

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on October 9 and 10, and closed from October 11 to 13. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits or browse our most popular gift shop items. The gift shop at Don Station remains closed. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the museum! Masks are mandatory and museum capacity is limited. Please review our reopening announcement prior to your visit. Museum admission tickets should be pre-booked in advance.

All Aboard the Safety Train: Railway Safety in Canada
2021-09-29 19:00 - 20:30
All Aboard the Safety Train: Railway Safety in Canada
Join us on Wednesday September 29th for the next online lecture in our 2021 series, Railway Ties. In honor of Railway Safety week, September 21-27, 2021, the Toronto Railway Museum has partnered with Operation Lifesaver Canada to advocate for railway safety and offer an exclusive peek at what goes on behind the scenes to keep Canadians safe on the rails.
This online event will be led by experts Peter Mohyla and Rob Romano (Operation Lifesaver Canada). Firstly, it will include a tour of the Whitby Rail Facility. Learn more about railway safety and how to “Stop Track Tragedies”. Event attendees will get a behind the scenes peek at what goes into a trip inspection before a train departs the station. Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to speak with the presenters and Toronto Railway Museum historians in a live Q&A session. Event attendees have a chance to win some great prizes from our friends at Ripley’s Aquarium and more. Get your tickets now!
To learn more about railway safety and how to stop track tragedies, join us for our latest lecture in the series!
Tickets
Tickets are $15 (+ HST and fees). Attendees will get access to our exclusive Zoom meeting room, where they can engage directly with the presenters and museum historians in our post-lecture Q&A. Ticket holders also have a chance to win one of several prizes, including a family pass to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and prizes from Operation Lifesaver, Steam Whistle Brewing, and the Toronto Blue Jays!
Tickets available on Eventbrite here.
About Peter Mohyla
Peter Mohyla has been with GO Transit for 33 years serving as a special constable and currently as a Community Safety Officer. He also chairs the Operation Lifesaver Ontario Committee and sits on the national Operation Lifesaver advisory committee.
For 32 years Peter has been promoting the OL rail safety messaging and working with a variety of community partners such as emergency responders, partners in the rail industry such as CN, CP, VIA Rail and government agencies such as the Ministry of Transportation.
Peter has been recognized for his devotion to promoting rail safety by being awarded the Ministry of Transportation Road Safety Achievement Award in the category of Road Safety Professional. In 2016 he was awarded the Operation Lifesaver Roger Cyr award for his work and dedication in promoting rail safety in Canada.
About Rob Romano
Rob Romano started with Bombardier Rail Transportation in 1997 as an Equipment maintainer ( Locomotive and Coach repair shops, Rail Equipment Operator). He then began working for GO Transit in 2013 as a Coach Rail Equipment officer and in 2015 transferred to the Rail Maintenance expansion group as a Rail Facility Specialist. Currently, Rob is the Supervisor of Facility maintenance and contract compliance at the Whitby Rail Maintenance Facility. In 2016 he received a Metrolinx Linx award for team work (During the construction of Whitby Rail Maintenance Facility).
About the Toronto Railway Museum (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.
Links for more info:
https://www.operationlifesaver.ca/initiatives/campaigns/today-is-better/
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
https://www.operationlifesaver.ca/

Museum Closed
2021-09-19
Please note the Toronto Railway Museum is closed on Sunday, September 19. Both the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse and the Miniature Train ride will be closed. Learn more about our operating hours, and plan your museum visit, here.
That being said, the museum will operate as normal when regular hours resume on Wednesday, September 22. We look forward to welcoming you to the museum and aboard the Mini Train soon! Visit our Eventbrite page to purchase tickets online.

Labour Day Long Weekend
2021-09-04 12:00 - 2021-09-06 17:00
The Toronto Railway Museum is OPEN for Labour Day Long Weekend. Visit the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse and ride the Mini Train!

Hours:
Saturday, September 4: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, September 5: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, September 6: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Tuesday, September 7: Closed
Wednesday, September 8: Closed

Regular hours resume on Thursday, September 9.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on Labour Day weekend. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits again or browse our most popular gift shop items. The gift shop at Don Station remains closed. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the museum! Masks are mandatory and museum capacity is limited. Please review our reopening announcement prior to your visit. Museum admission tickets should be pre-booked in advance.

Mini Train
On Saturday, September 4, Sunday, September 5, and Monday, September 6, the Miniature Train will run from 12:00-5:00pm (weather dependent). To clarify, each Miniature Train trip will depart with limited riders to accommodate for physical distancing, and face masks are mandatory on the platform and aboard the train.

Above all, we’re looking forward to bringing the Miniature Train back for the weekend! We ask for your patience as museum staff navigate these new challenges. Tickets go on sale at 11:30am (ET) for the day of; bookmark our Eventbrite page here.

Fighting For Freedom: The Railway Weaves Through Black Canadians' History
2021-08-19 20:00 - 21:30
Join us on August 19 for the next online lecture in our 2021 series, Railway Ties. In celebration of Emancipation Day in Canada, Kathy Grant stops at railway crossings through time to share some stories of Black Canadians. The stops include trains, our Black veterans, the porters, a couple of the Royal Tours and Emancipation Day on August 1st.
In this lecture we will be highlighting seven WWI and WWII Veterans who worked for railways including those who worked on the Royal Trains as Porters, were involved in famous raids, invasions, influential legal change, became senators and train crashes. These men include Jean Napoleon Maurice, Percy Corbin, Robert Strong, Judge George Carter, Lester Brown, Walter Modesty and Calvin Ruck. To learn more about these amazing men and their stories, join us for our latest lecture in the series!
Tickets available now through Eventbrite.
VIP Tickets ($25+HST and fees): Includes the lecture and an exclusive Q&A with Kathy Grant and TRM Historians. VIP Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes including:
1 year subscription to Ancestry.ca
2 tickets to Montreal courtesy of VIA Rail
1 prize pack from the Amherstburg Freedom Museum (includes family admission and museum shop gift card)
1 prize pack from the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum (includes tour gift certificate and sweatshirt)
General Admission ($10+HST and fees): Includes YouTube stream link to view the lecture only
About Kathy Grant
Born in Montreal to Barbadian immigrants, Kathy Grant is a public historian and founder of Legacy Voices, which ensures Black Canadian History is documented and preserved. Kathy has made educational presentations to municipalities, schools, and community organizations, and works to promote an inclusive approach to storytelling and historical documentation. Kathy was invited by the French Embassy in Ottawa to attend the 95th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and subsequently invited by the War Museum in Ottawa to present her No.2 Construction Battalion/Great War exhibit for the 100th Anniversary of the No.2 on Remembrance Day in 2016. Over the past decade Kathy has undertaken extensive research on the contributions of African Canadians in the First World War and assisted Veterans Affairs Canada in the development of the department’s commemorative resources on the military service of Black Canadians.

Kathy is a 2020 recipient of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women award in the category of “History”. Kathy was selected to work with YAP films as lead historian in an upcoming documentary on Black soldiers who served Canada in the Second World War. The documentary airs on the History Channel Remembrance Day 2021.
About the Toronto Railway Museum (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

Rails Through Aurora
2021-07-21 19:00 - 21:00
RAILS THROUGH AURORA
In partnership with the Aurora Historical Society, join us for “Rails Through Aurora”, our next online lecture on July 21!
TRM History Team Member Adam Peltenburg presents “Rails Through Aurora”. The community of Aurora, Ontario has a long and storied history of railways dating back before Canada’s confederation. This presentation will offer a comprehensive history of the railways of Aurora and its surroundings from 1853 to the present. Moreover, Adam will cover the important people and events involved in the construction of these railways. The presentation will be supported by captivating visuals including maps and photographs.
Adam will dive into the history of the railways through Aurora including Canadian National Railway, Ontario Northland Railway, and the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway.
Tickets available on the Aurora Historical Society website.

ABOUT
About Adam Peltenburg
Adam is an amateur historian and volunteer webmaster for the Toronto Railway Historical Association, who operate the Toronto Railway Museum. He has authored historical content on the TRHA website. He is also part of TRHA’s History Team, a group of local historians who specialize in Toronto’s railway history. In conclusion, Adam’s work involves interpreting and presenting local railway history. He does this in a way that can be enjoyed equally by other historians and the public at large in an online format.
About the Aurora Historical Society
The Aurora Historical Society was founded in 1963. It dedicates itself to the preservation of Aurora’s heritage. A non-profit governed by a volunteer Board, the Society owns and operates Hillary House National Historic Site. To sum up, the Aurora Historical Society hosts a variety of community oriented events throughout each year. It is always happy to welcome new members, volunteers and visitors.
About the Toronto Railway Museum
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. It is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s railway history. Additionally, TRM is committed to telling the stories of the
railways. We welcome conversations of varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming. TRM has a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.

Mini Train Weekends
2021-07-10 12:00 - 2021-10-10 17:00
Mini Train season is coming to a close! Join us for two more weekends – October 2 and 3 and October 9 and 10. Sunday, October 10 will be the last day to catch the Mini Train this year. We were thrilled to see the return of the train to our operations and are already counting down the days until next season.
Each Miniature Train weekend trip will depart with limited riders to accommodate for physical distancing, and face masks are mandatory on the platform and aboard the train. Mini Train tickets go on sale at 11:30am on Saturdays and Sundays for the day, and should be purchased online here.
Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers must be seated – Sorry, no babes in arms.
Above all, we’re looking forward to bringing the Miniature Train back for the weekend! We ask for your patience as museum staff navigate these new challenges.
The Toronto Railway Museum is delighted to announce it has been awarded the #SafeTravels Stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council for adopting health and hygiene global standardized protocols. The Safe Travels Stamp is an international symbol designed to allow travelers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene, standardized protocols.

Mini Train Pop-up Weekend
2021-07-03 12:00 - 2021-07-04 17:00
Upon entry to Step 2 of the Ontario reopening plan, the Toronto Railway Museum will host a Miniature Train “pop-up” weekend. On Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4, the Miniature Train will run from 12:00-5:00pm (weather dependent). To clarify, each Miniature Train trip will depart with limited riders to accommodate for physical distancing, and face masks are mandatory on the platform and aboard the train.
Above all, we’re looking forward to bringing the Miniature Train back for the weekend! We ask for your patience as museum staff navigate these new challenges.

Historic Places Days 2021
2021-07-03 08:00 - 2021-07-31 17:00
Celebrating National Historic Places
This summer the National Trust for Canada invites you to time travel by virtually visiting historic places across Canada. Hundreds of sites are waiting to be discovered, including the Toronto Railway Museum. As an official participating site, we’ll be celebrating Historic Places Days from July 3 to 31.

The Toronto Railway Museum is located in the heart of the historic John Street Roundhouse. It was was built in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Roundhouse is a National Historic Site. You can discover more about the John Street Roundhouse on the blog here.

The museum tells the stories of Toronto’s railways through static and interactive exhibits inside of Stall 17, as well as by leading guided tours through the rolling stock and rail buildings in the collection. Explore our Museum From Home activities here and join us as we celebrate in July!

Check out this blog post for ways to participate in Historic Places Days 2021, including a June contest, digital selfie tool, and more! Moreover, stay tuned for more details as we approach the July 3, 2021 launch date. Follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter here to stay in the know.

Historic Places Days begins on July 3, 2021!

“Canada Historic Places Days marks a summer celebration that profiles and promotes Canada’shistoric places from coast-to-coast. This year, while the doors of many historic places remainclosed, we are encouraging Canadians to connect with their country’s diverse heritage online. Ourvirtual festivities are set to kick off on July 3rd and will continue through to the end of July.”

Outdoor Tours
2021-07-01 12:30 - 2021-07-23 16:30 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
Uncover the stories of Toronto’s railways with our outdoor tours! The Toronto Railway Museum Outdoor Tour explores how Toronto’s railways shaped the social landscape of the city since their introduction in the early 1800s. How were Toronto’s oldest communities impacted by the development of the railways? Further, what stories do our train cars tell? Join us to find out! Tours are in-depth, guided walking tours that take visitors around the museum grounds and tour length is approximately 30 minutes.
Firstly, outdoor tours take place entirely outdoors and do not enter the museum space or inside the train cars as per Stage 1 of the Ontario reopening plan. Masks are mandatory throughout the duration of the guided tour. Also, groups should maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from other visitors and TRM staff. Finally, all guided tour tickets must be pre-booked in advance. Timed ticketing will accommodate reduced visitor numbers and physical distancing. Tours run 4 times per day: 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm! Pre-book your tickets here.
The Toronto Railway Museum is delighted to announce it has been awarded the #SafeTravels Stamp by the World Travel & Tourism Council for adopting health and hygiene global standardized protocols. The Safe Travels Stamp is an international symbol designed to allow travelers to recognize governments and companies around the world, which have adopted health and hygiene, standardized protocols.

Summer Instagram Giveaway
2021-06-24 11:00 - 2021-06-30 23:30
We are thrilled to announce our summer giveaway! Restrictions are beginning to lift and local attractions are reopening. Therefore, we’ve teamed up with 4 wonderful partners to bring you the most exciting Summer prize pack EVER!⁠

⁠
Kick off your summer vacation with over $1450.00 worth of prizes. That is to say, here are the participating partners in the giveaway:
⁠
– 4 General Admission Tickets to the CN Tower⁠
– 4 Tickets From Toronto to Ottawa brought to you by VIA Rail⁠ Canada
– An Outdoor Art Print of the Iconic Toronto Railway Museum Mural⁠ courtesy of Off The Wall On The Fence
– A $100 Gift Certificate to the Chef’s House⁠
– 4 Tickets to the Toronto Railway Museum⁠
How to Enter the Summer Giveaway:
To sum up, to enter the summer giveaway visit our Instagram page. Contest closes on Wednesday June 30 at 11:59pm and is open to residents of Ontario ONLY. Additionally, winner will be announced on Thursday July 1 on Instagram stories! Moreover, the winner will be contacted directly via DM by @OffTheWallOnTheFence. ⁠Good luck!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ON THE TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM INSTAGRAM

We’re looking forward to celebrating the start of the summer season here in Toronto. Above all, we encourage you to support local as restrictions begin to lift.

The Crowd Went Wild! Canadian Baseball’s Love Affair with the Railway
2021-06-17 19:00 - 20:30
The next event in our online lecture series, Railway Ties
Join us on June 17 for the next online lecture in our 2021 series: The Crowd Went Wild! Presented by Canada’s premier baseball historian, William Humber, discover the role the railways played in popularizing baseball in Canada. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards future programming and support the collection, preservation, restoration of Canadian rail artifacts and important historical interpretation at the TRM.
Canadian baseball’s biggest myth is how Americans imposed it on us. Not so! We shared with them the modern game’s evolution from its folk roots. In some ways, Canadians had an even bigger role. The railway system brought this early role to full maturity. Its independent growth in Ontario, between 1854-1873, was railway reliant. Railway porters were likely the first African-Canadian team in 1869. In 1934, Babe Ruth started his epical trip to Japan with a rail stopover in Moose Jaw. The crowd on a Saskatchewan platform went wild! To this day the GO train or subway takes most people to Blue Jays games and the VIA stopover in St. Marys Ontario is a homerun drive to Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame.
About William Humber
William Humber of Bowmanville entered Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 for championing the game’s history in Canada. Author of 12 books including five on baseball, he is often asked to comment on baseball by amongst others the CBC and the Rogers Sportsnet. For the past 43 years he has taught a “Baseball Spring Training for Fans” course, (on-line this year), preparing fans for the season ahead. He is a respected member of the Society for American Baseball Research’s 19th century research community.
About the Toronto Railway Museum (TRM)
The Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) brings people together by telling stories of Toronto’s railway heritage. The Museum is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is typically open year-round. TRM presents exhibits, tours, educational programs and publications that broaden the understanding and appreciation of Toronto’s rich railway history. TRM is committed to telling the stories of the railways, and welcoming conversations of its varied experiences through its lecture series, exhibits and integrated programming with a mission to learn from the past to make the future better.
Tickets
VIP Tickets:
$25 (+ fees and HST) with access to Zoom link, plus the live Q&A with William Humber and Toronto Railway Museum Historians. VIP attendees will have the chance to win multiple prizes, including signed Blue Jays memorabilia and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada tickets! They will also receive a free gift from our friends at Steam Whistle Brewing.
General Admission:
$10 (+ fees and HST) with access to YouTube link
Tickets available now on Eventbrite.
Hurry! The first 50 VIP ticket purchasers will get a free Blue Jays hat! Pick up only.

Doors Open at the TRM
2021-05-29 - 2021-05-30
Toronto Railway Museum participates in Doors Open celebrations every year. As we are not able to gather at the museum this year, we decided to recognize the weekend with virtual activities.
Firstly, to get an inside look at the John Street Roundhouse, the home of the Toronto Railway Museum, check out the video below:

Secondly, on May 29th at 11 am, join us on our Instagram. We’ll be hosting a special trivia contest. Learn more about our past Doors Open events and have a chance to win a gift card for The Rec Room!
We look forward to welcoming you back to the museum when it is safe to do so. Remember you can always access our TRM From Home activities. Thank you for celebrating Doors Open 2021 with us!
Be sure to check out other Digital Doors Open activities happening this month.
