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Upcoming Events
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
June 1 & 2, 2013 10 am – 4 pm
Visit and explore the Museum’s collection of locomotives, cabooses, jiggers and other rolling stock on outdoor display. Enjoy classic cars, model aircraft, historical demonstrations, music and activities for the whole family.
Day Out With Thomas
Save the date! This year’s event will be July 19-21 and July 26-28, 2013
Hours:
Currently OPEN SATURDAYS 12 – 4 PM
GROUP TOURS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT. Call 519-637-6284
Regular Admission: $5/adult, children under 12 free
SUMMER HOURS:
Victoria Day Weekend (May 18, 2013) through Labour Day (Sept. 2, 2013)
Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Mondays except
Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, and Labour Day
Holiday Monday Hours: 12 noon – 4 pm
SUMMER STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The museum is currently accepting applications for the following summer student positions:
Elgin County Railway Museum Mission Statement:
To preserve, teach, and display to the public the rich heritage of the railroads and their role in the development of St. Thomas and Elgin County.
The railway has been part of St. Thomas since the completion of the London and Port Stanley Railway in 1856. More than 26 railways have passed through the city. This provided the foundation for the birth of St. Thomas due to the provision of employment and, subsequently, the income to sustain the community. At one point, St. Thomas was interchangeable with the term “Railway City.” It was also known as the “Railway Capital of Canada” in its heyday.
St. Thomas was a convenient shortcut between Chicago and New York: two major railway cities, especially concerning freight shipment. South Western Ontario is also predominantly flat terrain which is perfect for railways. The city and surrounding area grew rapidly which resulted in immense change for the community. St. Thomas became the “Railway Capital of Canada.”
The 1913 MCRR shops are the oldest continuously operating locomotive repair shops in North America.
The Elgin County Railway Museum is located in the former Michigan Central Railroad (MCRR) locomotive repair shops, just south of the Canada Southern (CASO) train station. The 55,000 square foot “shops” building have served as headquarters of the museum since 1988. The building and surrounding 15 acres of railway land were purchased by the museum in 2009. Locomotive, passenger car and railway service vehicle repairs and restorations are performed today. The adjacent CASO station was, and still is, innately tied to the MCRR shops. The CASO station, now owned and operated by the North American Railway Hall of Fame (NARHF) was divisional headquarters for many American railway companies and provided passenger service, while the MCRR shops provided maintenance and repair service for locomotives. Both buildings remain important heritage sites in the heart of the City of St. Thomas. Guided tours of the Elgin County Railway Museum are available year round (see Events & Hours). CASO station tours/rental information are available at the NARHF web site (see Links).
Contacts
Phone: 519-637-6284
E-mail: thedispatcher@ecrm5700.org (For general inquiries)
promotions@ecrm5700.org (For Railway Nostalgia Weekend/Heritage Day)
tours@ecrm5700.org (Tour information and bookings)
Museum Manager: Dawn Miskelly