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Upcoming museum events for 2012!
Railway Nostalgia Weekend:
June 23-24, 2012
Railway Nostalgia Weekend is a celebration of local railway heritage. Visitors can relive the great rail adventure by meeting former railway workers and getting up-close with much of our rolling stock showcased outside. The event also features railway-nostalgia vendors, a train hobby show, railway artifact displays, music, classic cars, food and children’s activities. BX Tower will also be open for tours during Nostalgia Weekend. The event runs from 10am-4pm.
Day Out With Thomas:
July 13-15 and 20-22, 2012
The Day Out With Thomas (DOWT) event is hosted by the Elgin County Railway Museum and presented by HIT Entertainment. Thomas The Tank Engine will visit 45 cities across the United States, and three in Canada, including St. Thomas as it’s only Ontario stop. DOWT tickets include many family-fun activities: a 25-minute train ride with Thomas, meeting Sir Topham Hatt, Island of Sodor hay bale maze, story-telling, crafts, clowns, music, and admission to the Elgin County Railway Museum. Click here to visit our DOWT Facebook page.
The event runs 8 am to 6 pm, July 13-15 and July 20-22, 2012. It is located at the St. Thomas Memorial Centre, 80 Wilson Ave. Tickets are $20 plus tax for ages two and older, and are available by calling 1-888-222-6608, or visiting www.ticketweb.ca/dowt. Limited tickets may be available at the gate.
Railway Heritage Days:
August 25-26, 2012
Make tracks with the whole family to Railway Heritage Day! Tour the interiors of a steam engine, caboose, and baggage car and talk to former railroaders. Explore railway artifact exhibits, enjoy historic photos, model railway displays, a hobby train show, music, and a BBQ. BX Tower will also be open for tours during Railway Heritage Day, 10am-4pm
** Vendors interested in renting table space for Railway Nostalgia or Heritage Days, should e-mail the museum at promotions@ecrm5700.org or call the museum at (519) 637-6284.
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
Artifact Collection Assistant: Heather Fletcher