Main Hall: Life on the Rails
Welcome to the Main Hall, where the heartbeat of Canada's railway past comes alive. This immersive space explores the people, places, and powerful machines that drove Canada’s railways, and the lives lived aboard them.
Business Car No 4
Step inside the elegance and functionality of business and sleeper cars, where railway executives traveled in style and long-distance passengers found comfort on their cross-country journeys. These restored cars offer a glimpse into both luxury and practicality aboard the rails.
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Railway Dining
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Experience the golden era of railway dining, where white linen service met the click-clack of steel wheels. Explore menus, dishware, and the stories of the chefs and stewards who turned train meals into memorable events.
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Porters & Unions
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Learn about the lives and legacy of railway porters, many of whom were Black Canadians, whose service shaped train culture and sparked movements for workers’ rights and racial equality. The rise of unions gave voice to these workers and helped transform the railway labor landscape.
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Arrowhead
Unearth the story of Arrowhead, a once-thriving railway town now lost to time. This section remembers the people and communities built, and often forgotten, by the expansion of the railway.
Mikado 5468 Steam Locomotive
Marvel at the mighty Mikado 5468, a preserved steam locomotive that once thundered across Canada's vast distances. It stands as a symbol of industrial power, craftsmanship, and the era when steam ruled the rails.
These handcars were used throughout Canadian Pacific until the late 1930s. They were used primarily by four-man crews to perform inspections and maintenance on their eight to ten mile-long sections. With the introduction of gasoline powered motor-cars, handcars were quickly retired and scrapped as they were labour intensive. Just getting the section crew from the tool house to the work site was hard work!