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About Us

Did You Know...?
The Grand Trunk Station (now VIA) On Bridge St in Niagara Falls originally had tracks on both sides, for eastbound and westbound trains.
The Niagara Railway Museum's mandate is preserving and promoting the vast railway heritage of Niagara Falls, and the surrounding area. Since its inception, members have been active in various displays throughout the Niagara Region.

Our collection started out small in 1994, with an assortment of railroad paper work and photographs. In August 1996, NRM acquired an ex- CP Rail track motorcar, followed by 2 baggage carts, one from the TH&B, and another from CPR. The museum collection has 4 track motorcars, from CNR (2), CP Rail, and the Chesapeake & Ohio, a small, hand operated crane from CP built by Pyke, and 4 lorries (used to carry tools and supplies behind the motorcars). In 2001, we added a single stone track grinder, manufactured by Nordberg Track Equipment in 1939, and originally owned by CNR at Fort Erie. 2001 also saw the donation of 3, 40' boxcars from CP Rail to the NRM. The cars, designated as "Heritage", by CP, are to become the home for the Museum once a suitable location has been found. The cars were built in 1956 & 1960, and are in great shape. When they are restored, they will work out well as our "display building(s)". Current plans have one becoming a display car, one for a workshop, and the 3rd possibly for a model railway layout.

Other acquisitions followed, some of which include railway track tools, various railway signs, lanterns, oilcans, and books on railways throughout the world. The NRM also acquired over 300 railway blueprints, of which approximately half are directly related to the Niagara Region. Along with the blueprints, we also have various operating manuals for locomotives, rulebooks, timetables, and maps from many different railways. In September 1998, museum members returned to Niagara Falls a little known part of history, which had been removed over 20 years ago. The new arrivals came in the form of 3 (of 4) models representing the various railway bridges of Niagara Falls. The models include, the Great Western (Later Grand Trunk) Suspension Bridge, the Niagara Railway Steel Arch Bridge (Whirlpool Bridge as it is known today), and the Canada Southern/Michigan Central Railway Cantilever Bridge. The fourth model, of the Michigan Central RR (CP Rail) Arch Bridge was destroyed several years ago, although the museum does plan to rebuild this bridge to make it a complete set once again.

In April 2006, the NRM acquired the last remaining steam locomotive from the Hydro Electric Power Commission’s Sir Adam Beck Generating Station. HEPC #46 will become the centerpiece of the museum after its full cosmetic restoration. The NRM also enlarged it’s equipment roster in July 2007, by adding a Whiting 2TMA Trackmobile, and a Plymouth MDT 40ton diesel, donated by Babcock & Wilcox in Cambridge.

The NRM currently displays and promotes the railway heritage of Niagara at various events throughout Ontario, from our 2 annual Niagara Falls Model Railway Shows, held on the first Sunday in March, and the last Sunday in October, to the Niagara Falls Canada Day Celebrations. The Niagara Railway Museum is a charitable organization under the CRA, and therefore, can issue charitable tax receipts.

We are always looking for railway artifacts to display at our shows throughout the year. As well, we are searching for ANY photos of the railways in Niagara Falls, up to the mid/late 1980's. If you can help, please contact us.

The NRM has set aside a special page to thank all those who have helped us so far. It can be viewed with this link
©2007 NRM