Toronto Railway Museum

Online Lecture: Train Tracks to Ski Tracks
2022-12-15 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for “Train Tracks to Ski Tracks”, an online lecture on December 15!

The Craigleith Station has welcomed travellers since the 1880s. Tourist travellers to the area initially took the waters and the air for their health and enjoyed local spas along the rail line. However, with the development of the ski industry along the Niagara Escarpment specialized ski trains created opportunities for winter fun for city dwellers. Join Craigleith Heritage Depot Curator Andrea Wilson as she shares the story of the ski train and its impact on the Craigleith Station and the local community.

Sold out!

Please email manager@trha.ca to be added to the waitlist.

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 approximately 8:30pm EST.

ABOUT ANDREA WILSON
Andrea Wilson has been working in museums for…… nigh these 43 years! However, she never stops learning and sharing about local natural and cultural history. Currently she is the Curator of the Craigleith Heritage Depot and has developed the award-winning REEL History programme bringing local history to the big screen. Working in a historic railway station is nothing new for Andrea and she loves its location, along the very edge of Nottawasaga Bay, Ontario.

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.

Museum Closure
2022-12-01 08:00 - 17:00
Please note the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse and museum store in Don Station will be closed on Thursday, December 1.
Apologies for any inconvenience. Regular hours resume on Friday, December 2. Explore our Museum From Home activities.

Museum Store Sunday 2022
2022-11-27 12:00 - 17:00
Join us on Sunday, November 27 to shop the museum store and save! Museum Store Sunday is here and with it amazing deals. Visit the store to take part in some festive activities, plus get ahead of your holiday shopping. Free gift for the first 50 customers!

Museum Store Sunday kicks off at 12:00pm on the Don Station platform and runs until 5:00pm. Join us for Santa letter writing, festive treats, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony as we celebrate the return of the museum store in Don Station with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and MPP Chris Glover.

Sharks vs Trains
2022-11-26 12:00 - 2022-12-04 13:00 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
Join us on November 26th for a one-hour family event inspired by the “Shark vs Train” by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld (2010)!
Join Toronto Railway Museum on November 26th for a one-hour family event inspired by the “Shark vs Train” by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld (2010)!
Our George Brown Professor Karen Sinotte and George Brown student volunteer, Ledy Loterte have organized an event for children ages 4-8 years old. This event is filled with a series of games and activities to explore the museum and learn more about sharks and trains. After the one-hour event, we will all make our way to Ripley’s Aquarium and explore the shark’s side! Join us in stall 17.
Each ticket includes admission for the Toronto Railway Museum and admission for Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada for each attendee. Please note: adults must remain with their child for the duration of the program.
Two dates to chose from
November 26 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dec 4th @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

https://torontorailwaymuseum.com/?tribe_events=sharks-vs-trains

Register here.

Online Lecture: Building Toronto
2022-11-17 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for “Building Toronto: Railways and the Development of Toronto”, an online lecture on November 17!

How did the railways benefit Toronto? What ways did Toronto City Council support this type of development? Building Toronto: Railways and the Development of Toronto will focus on the development of railways in Toronto from a political perspective. Presenter Michael Dowbenka will discuss how the construction of railways to and in Toronto were supported and encouraged by Toronto City Council and what role they played in the process.

FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Tickets for this event are free, although registration is required. Please note this event has a limited capacity.

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 MICHAEL DOWBENKA
Michael Dowbenka is the Acting Supervisor, Collections and Outreach in the City of Toronto’s Museum and Heritage Services unit. He works at the Market Gallery where he oversees the City’s Fine Art Collection as well as the ever-changing exhibitions in the gallery on the history, art and culture of Toronto. Before assuming the role of acting supervisor, Michael spent fifteen years as the Outreach and Exhibit Technician at the Market Gallery where he was responsible for the administration, care and maintenance of the Fine Art Collection, installation of exhibitions in the gallery and also for delivering the Market Gallery’s historical talks and educational programming.

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.

October Long Weekend Hours
2022-10-08 08:00 - 2022-10-13 17:00
Thanksgiving Weekend Hours:
Please note the following holiday hours for the museum, Mini Train, and museum store in Don Station:
Saturday, October 8: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, October 9: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, October 10: Closed
Tuesday, October 11: Closed
Wednesday, October 12: Closed

Regular hours resume Thursday, October 13

Mini Train Ride
The Mini Train will operate on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 as usual (weather dependant). The Mini Train will be closed on Monday, October 10.

Museum Store
The museum store in Don Station will be open on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, and closed October 10-12. The store will resume regular hours of operation on Thursday, October 13.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on October 8 and 9, and closed from October 10 to 12. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits or drive the train simulator.

Museum store closed
2022-09-30 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
Please note our museum store will be closed today, September 30th. We will resume normal hours tomorrow, October 1st.
The museum will be open for regular hours, 12 to 5 pm.

Locomotives on the Move
2022-09-24 12:00 - 2022-11-26 17:00 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
Every Saturday, visit the Toronto Railway Museum to see our large artifacts in action!
Our volunteer crew is on site on Saturdays to drive our No.1 Locomotive, operate our turntable, and teach you all about the hard work that goes into keeping the museum running.
Locomotives on the Move is subject to weather and volunteer availability. Visit the museum to learn about the day’s activities.

Online Lecture: A History of Toy Trains
2022-09-15 19:00 - 20:30
Join us! “A History of Toy Trains: An ‘O’ Gauge Perspective” on September 15 (7pm EST).

Discover the beginnings and early history of toy trains made in Britain, Europe and the United States, and how manufacturers marketed trains for Canada. Presenters will delve into the evolution of toy trains, from pull toys to simple clockwork mechanisms and beautifully decorated tinplate lithography, to the well engineered mechanical marvels of the early 1900’s.

The appeal of mechanical electric toy trains exploded in the Post WWII era, and the Golden Age of popularity was the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. After a generation of decline, the toy trains of today are enjoying an unprecedented resurgence, as manufacturers are now making modern remote-controlled electronic marvels, with full sounds and effects recorded from real steam and diesel locomotives. The session will close with a look at the toy trains of today.

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

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.

PRESENTER
Kyle Miller was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He graduated with a BSc from Dalhousie University in 1983. His Father was a lifelong railroader with CN and then VIA. After a career in music during the 80’s, Kyle spent 15 years in Toronto with Canada Post and IBM, before relocating to Vancouver in 2003. Kyle serves on the Board of Directors and volunteers at the Railway Museum of BC, and can frequently be seen driving Track Speeders and Mini-Rail Trains.

CO-PRESENTERS
Robin Dodson, CTTA, TCA, Historian, Toy Train Expert
Charles Reif, CTTA, TCA, Author, Historian, Toy Train Expert
Frank Schmidt, CTTA, TCA, Author, Historian, Toy Train Expert
James Barrett, CTTA, TCA, Author, Historian, Toy Train Expert
Mark Horne, CTTA Previous President, Author, Toy Train Expert

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.

Fall Mini Train Rides
2022-09-11 12:00 - 2022-10-31 17:00
Regular, Wednesday-Sunday, Mini Train operations end on Labour Day (September 5). After that, the Mini Train will run on Saturdays and Sundays only, until October 30.
Please note the Mini Train will be closed on Saturday, September 10, but will operate on Sunday, September 11.
The Mini Train and museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse will be closed for Thanksgiving (Monday, October 10).
Tickets
Online ticketing for the Mini Train will remain in place for the fall season. Tickets go on sale at 11:30am on Saturdays and Sundays for the day. Bookmark our Eventbrite page to easily purchase tickets this weekend!
Please note Mini Train operations are weather dependent.

Mini Train Closure/Late Opening
2022-09-10 08:00 - 17:00
Please note the Mini Train will be closed on Saturday, September 10, but will operate on Sunday, September 11.
The museum in Stall 17 of the Roundhouse and the museum store in Don Station will have a delayed opening to accommodate staff training. Both will open at 1:30 PM and close at 5:00 PM.
Regular operations resume Sunday, September 11.

Simulator Early Closure
2022-09-09 15:00 - 17:00
Please note that the train simulator at the museum will close early at 3:00PM on Friday, September 9, for maintenance. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Labour Day Weekend 2022
2022-09-03 12:30 - 2022-09-07 17:00
We are open this Labour Day long weekend! Miniature Train rides, guided tours, the museum, and the museum store in Don Station are all open for Labour Day 2022. Please note our holiday hours:
Saturday, September 3:
Sunday, September 4:
Monday, September 5: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Tuesday, September 6: Closed
Wednesday, September 7: Closed
Regular hours resume on Thursday, September 8. See you soon!

Lost and Found: A Journey with Mr. Mathly
2022-08-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Toronto Railway Museum, 255 Bremner Blvd, Stall 17, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3M9, Canada
Calling all Grade 3 Students! We are looking for young learners (8 to 10 years old) who would like to support the museum by testing out new Grade 3 math program. In this program, learners will help Mr. Mathly locate his passengers’ missing luggage.
This test event will take place at the Toronto Railway Museum on August 27th and last approximately 1 hour. Participants will be asked for their feedback on the program.
As a token of our appreciation, participants will receive 1 child ticket and 1 adult ticket for our miniature train ride.
Click here to register. Registration is required.

Online Lecture: Railway Technology in the Canadian First World War Effort
2022-08-18 19:00 - 20:30
Join us! “Railway Technology in the Canadian First World War Effort” on August 18 at 7:00 pm EST.
Explore the complexities of transportation and logistics in the forward areas of the Western Front during the First World War. Join us and presenter Andrew Iarocci on Thursday, August 18 at 7:00 PM (EST) for a free online lecture. Learn about how railway technologies and expertise were gradually integrated into the British (and Canadian) transportation system, in an effort to streamline and rationalize the movement of ammunition, supplies, and personnel.
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE TICKET.
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.
PRESENTER
Andrew Iarocci teaches history at Western University. He is a former collections manager (transportation and artillery) at the Canadian War Museum. His research interests include First World War operations and logistics, the material culture of the Canadian Army, and military transportation design. He is the author of A Nation in Conflict: Canada and the Two World Wars, and Shoestring Soldiers: The 1st Canadian Division at War, 1914-1915.
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.

Cancelled: Tours and Mini Train
2022-08-13 12:00 - 16:00
Please note that there will be no guided tours or Miniature Train rides on Saturday, August 13 due to an event in the park. The museum and museum store in Don Station will be open for limited hours, from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Long Weekend Hours
2022-07-30 12:00 - 2022-08-03 17:00
Holiday Weekend Hours
August Long Weekend Hours:
Saturday, July 30: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, July 31: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, August 1: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Tuesday, August 2: Closed
Wednesday, August 3: Closed

Regular hours resume Thursday, August 4.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors for the August long weekend and closed from August 2-3. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits, drive the train simulator, or ride the Mini Train.

Museum Spotting: A Virtual Tour of Canada's Railway Museums
2022-07-21 20:00 - 21:30
Join us! “Museum Spotting: A Virtual Tour of Canada’s Railway Museums” on July 21st at 8 pm EST.
The Toronto Railway Museum is one of dozens of railway museums in Canada. In our July session of our Railway Ties virtual lecture series, we will hear from a selection of other railway museums across the country. Join us as we visit railway museums in Quebec, Niagara Region, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Hear stories of the railways from all around Canada, and start planning your next cross-country railway museum trip!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE TICKET.
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 8pm Eastern Standard Time, and will end at 9:30pm EST.
PRESENTERS
Exporail
Niagara Railway Museum
Saskatchewan Railway Museum
Alberta Railway Museum
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.

Roundhouse Park Farmers' Market
2022-07-17 11:00 - 2022-12-18 15:00
Farmers’ market
The Roundhouse Farmers’ Market brings fresh, local food to the historic setting of Roundhouse Park on Sundays from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. From May to October, the market is outdoors in Roundhouse Park. During the winter months, the market is inside the Roundhouse in Stall 10.

Historic Places Days 2022
2022-07-08 08:00 - 2022-07-31 17:00
Join us for the month of July as we discover our rich and diverse history through #HistoricPlacesDays.
SELFIE CONTEST
The National Trust for Canada is giving away a total of $2000, and over $10,000 in prizes, in support of Historic Places Days. Get creative with a selfie or photo, and post it on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #HistoricPlacesDays before July 31 for a chance to win $1,000! Enter the contest today.

Courtesy of Brooklynn St

Courtesy of oaktreeb on Instagram
THE JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE
The Toronto Railway Museum is housed within the historic John Street Roundhouse. The best surviving example of a railway roundhouse in Canada, John Street was build in 1929 to service passenger steam locomotives. Discover the John Street Roundhouse’s story.

Long Weekend Hours
2022-07-01 12:00 - 2022-07-03 17:00
The Toronto Railway Museum is OPEN for Canada Day long weekend 2022. Visit the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse, take a guided tour, and ride the Mini Train.
Hours:
Friday, July 1: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Saturday, July 2: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, July 3: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, July 4: Closed
Tuesday, July 5: Closed

Regular hours resume on Wednesday, July 6.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors on May Long Day weekend. Stop by to enjoy your favourite exhibits or browse our most popular gift shop items. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the museum! Masks are mandatory and museum capacity is limited.

Mini Train
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. Tickets go on sale at 11:30am (ET) for the day of; bookmark our Eventbrite page here.

Guided Tours
Guided tours are back for the summer at TRM! Sign up for a tour at the museum for a chance to climb aboard some of our rolling stock collection. Tours depart at 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, and 4:00pm unless otherwise posted. Plan your visit.

Museum Closure
2022-06-29
Please note the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse and Miniature Train are closed on Wednesday, June 29.
Apologies for any inconvenience. Regular hours resume on Thursday, June 30. Explore our Museum From Home activities.

Heritage Toronto Tour: Rail Lands
2022-06-25 15:00 - 16:30 | Roundhouse Park, 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, m5v3m9, Canada
Heritage Toronto will be hosting a tour of the Rail Lands, including a visit to Roundhouse Park. For more information and to register, visit their website.

Online Lecture: Algonquin Park and the Railways
2022-06-16 19:00 - 20:30
Join us! “Algonquin Park and the Railways” on June 16th at 7 pm EST.
Roderick MacKay, a historian of Algonquin Provincial Park, will use mainly archival images to provide a Powerpoint overview of some aspects of Park history as influenced by proposed and constructed railways, including two cross Park railways and a number of smaller logging railways. He will briefly examine what became of the larger railways, and discuss some of their effects on the environment and vice versa.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE TICKET.
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 RODERICK MACKAY
Roderick (Rory) MacKay of Harrowsmith was born in Toronto and raised in Toronto and at his family summer cottage in Algonquin Park. A childhood activity shared with his father and brother Niall was watching trains at Leaside Station. While taking a degree in Biology at Queen’s University in Kingston he spent summers from 1972 to 1978 working as a seasonal interpretive naturalist at the Algonquin Park Museum. In 1989 he was hired to set up the Algonquin Park Archives, with which he is still associated as a volunteer. He worked as a Kingston area secondary school teacher of science and history from 1978 to 2008. He is a licensed research archaeologist particularly interested in logging camps. He is also co-author of “Algonquin” (1993), and author of “Spirits of the Little Bonnechere” (1996 revised 2017), “More about J. R. Booth” (2015), “More About the Camboose Shanty” (2015), “A Chronology of Dates and Events of Algonquin Provincial Park” (2018), and “Algonquin Park – A Place Like No Other: A history of Algonquin Provincial Park” (2018) available from The Friends of Algonquin Park. He is a recipient of the Friends of Bonnechere Provincial Park Directors’ Award (1998), The Friends of Algonquin Park Directors’ Award (2008), and the Ontario Archaeological Society Peggi Armstrong Public Archaeology Award (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.

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

Museum Closure: June 8 & 10
2022-06-08 08:00 - 2022-06-10 17:00
We’ve got our sights set on summer! Please note the museum will be closed on June 8 and June 10 for staff training.

HOURS
Wednesday, June 8: Closed
Thursday, June 9: Open, 12:00pm-5:00pm
Friday, June 10: Closed
Regular hours resume Saturday, June 11

Doors Open 2022
2022-05-28 10:00 - 2022-05-29 17:00
Join us on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 for Doors Open Toronto!
About
Doors Open Toronto showcases some of the most architecturally, historically, culturally, and socially significant buildings across the city, including the John Street Roundhouse. Since 2002, TRM has hosted an open house in Roundhouse Park and the John Street Roundhouse. Explore past Doors Open events at TRM on the blog. We’re looking forward to celebrating the kick-off of our summer season with you! Stop by for a visit and to meet some of our wonderful volunteers.
What’s On
Free admission! Doors Open Weekend hours are from 10:00am-5:00pm. Visits to the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse are complimentary over Doors Open weekend, along with a host of other activities:

View the small model train show in Stall 15 of the John Street Roundhouse
Take a guided tour. Tours run at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm.
Test drive the train simulator
Climb aboard and go inside the rolling stock on display

May Long Weekend Hours
2022-05-21 08:00 - 2022-05-23 17:00
The Toronto Railway Museum is OPEN for May Long Weekend 2022. Visit the museum in Stall 17 of the John Street Roundhouse.

Hours:
Saturday, May 21: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday, May 22: Open 12:00-5:00pm
Monday, May 23: Open 12:00-5:00pm

Tuesday, May 24: Closed
Wednesday, May 25: Closed

Regular hours resume on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Stall 17 Museum
The museum space in Stall 17 is open to visitors over May Long Day 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.

Royal Train Tours of Canada in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II
2022-05-19 19:00 - 20:30
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.
