Track to Discovery

SAINT-CONSTANT, May 16th, 2019 – Beginning May 17th Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, will be open daily until September 2nd. Visitors will discover the largest railway collection in Canada and climb aboard several of the vehicles on display. They will experience the lifestyle of yesteryear’s travelers and learn more about the workers of the great Canadian railways. This year, some new rail vehicles are on display in the Grand gallery of the Angus Pavilion in anticipation of the upcoming renewal of the permanent exhibition.  

As in every year, events, family activities, demonstrations, exhibitions as well as rides in a vintage streetcar, on an outdoor miniature railway and in a passenger train will nicely complement their visit.  All this will underline the vital role of railways in the development of the country and put visitors on a track to discovery.

Four events not to be missed this summer

Launch of the 2019-2020 programming: Track to Discovery

50% discount on all daily rates on Sunday, May 26 from 10 am to 5 pm.

CN’s Stars: visit four of their rail vehicles on Sunday, June 9, July 14, August 11 and September 8, 2019. 

A Great Passion for Model Trains: On August 17 and 18, 2019, exhibitors from Quebec and Ontario will present their model trains to the public at Exporail. Model railroaders will share their passion with visitors. A must see: the Quélug booth and its models built with Lego® blocks. 

Railroad Days: activities surrounding different aspects of the world of Steampunks, September 22, 2019.

Photo : Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum

New vehicles on display

Among the six new vehicles that have entered the Grand gallery of the Angus Pavilion, visitors will easily recognize two of them which may be more familiar... 

The inaugural car of the Montreal metro (MR-63) is at Exporail now. This passenger car, renovated by the employees of Société de transport de Montréal, hosted dignitaries such as the Mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau, and Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger in August 1965, during the unveiling of the train, a year before the opening of the Montreal metro. The 81-502 car transported several million people during regular metro service. It is part of the MR-63 rolling stock, which has crisscrossed the Montreal metro for nearly 52 years and has been completely retired from the underground network since June 21, 2019. 

The passenger car VIA 15513 Sibley Park is one of a batch of eighteen cars, some of which are still operating, named after various Canadian national or provincial parks. The provincial park of the Sibley peninsula is located in Ontario, near Thunder Bay and Lake Superior. It is also called “Sleeping Giant” because the peninsula looks a lot like a sleeping giant in silhouette. The Park cars are streamlined passenger vehicles made of stainless steel having a double function: they are at the same time sleeping-cars and panoramic observation dome-cars. Each one of the “Park” cars offers a similar configuration: a triple occupancy room, three double occupancy rooms, twenty-four seats in the dome, a shared bathroom, a bar and a panoramic lounge room in the rear. Before its passenger train acquisition by VIA Rail in 1978, the Canadian Pacific Railway used them between 1954 and 1978.

Photo : Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum

Family activities

• Immerse yourselves in the lives of yesteryear’s travelers with Guided tours (Saturdays and Sundays). 
• Discover the world of model railroading in the model train room. 
• Watch movies:
  - The Rocky Mountain Express (English version at 1:30 pm, admission $4, 45 minutes) propels audiences on a steam train journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Canadian Rockies while relating the epic adventure of building Canada's first transcontinental railway.
  - The Red Rocket (12 pm & 2:30 pm): 14 minute streetcar ride through downtown Toronto. 
• Take a ride: Vintage streetcar rides,  Miniature ride-on railway and  Passenger train (Sunday afternoons) 
• Attend demonstrations (variable hours, weekends) : Turntable operation Telegraphy John Molson Steam Locomotive. 
• Participate in the Rail Smart Rally 
  The purpose of this activity forfamilies with children aged 8 to 12 years old, as well as for groups, schools and day camps, is to raise awareness and inform the public about safety around railways. With the help of an exploratory notebook (which is available at the reception desk and included in the entrance fee), visitors experience the six stages of the rally as they move through the museum. 

Photo : Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum

Exhibition on Railway Safety - Stop, Look, Listen: Incoming Train?

Schedule

About Exporail

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