Established in 1961 by its owner and operator, the
Canadian Railroad Historical Association, the museum maintains the largest collection of railway equipment in
Canada with over 140 pieces of rolling stock. There are also over 250,000 objects and documents from Canada's railway history in the collection which is maintained in the archives on the property. The museum operates a
heritage streetcar line around the grounds as well as a
heritage railway which pulls a small passenger train on a former freight spur to
Montée des Bouleaux. The streetcar operates daily during the spring, summer and fall while the railway operates every Sunday during the same period. Three engines that did not operate in service in Canada but have a 'Canadian connection' are
SNCF 030-841 3-030.C.841,
LB&SCR A1 class 54
Waddon &
LNER Class A4 4489
Dominion of Canada, two of which are British in origin and the third is French. The museum underwent a significant expansion during the 2000s when the Angus Exhibit Pavilion opened. Some of the most valuable items were placed in the new pavilion, which became the main exhibition building. One of the most notable artifacts is former
Canadian Pacific locomotive #2850, with a
4-6-4 wheel arrangement, known as a "Hudson type". In 1939, this particular locomotive was responsible for pulling the
Royal train carrying
King George VI and
Queen Elizabeth on the westbound leg of their trip across Canada. Because of this, #2850 and all engines of its class (H1c/H1d #2820-2859, H1e #2860-2864), were redesignated as
Royal Hudsons. This did not include the H1a/H1b classes #2800-2819.
Steam locomotives Diesel locomotives ==Images==