Our final open house is only a few days away. There’s been a significant change in the appearance of the shop.? A lot of the graffiti is gone, and the windows are starting to get covered. The grass has been cut, and the shop prepared for visitors.? The only thing remaining, the visitors.? Come out and see all the work that has been done since July.? Our members have been working hard to improve our guest experience. Come out and support the great railway heritage that Niagara has, and see what we have in store for 2014.
September 2, 2013
March 7, 2012
12th Annual Niagara Falls Model Railway Show a success!!
The 12th Annual Niagara Falls Model Railway Show has now come and gone. 37 vendors and 4 layouts took part in this years show, which was a great success. My thanks to the vendors who came out to sell their wares, and to our hard working volunteers who help make the show possible. Here are some pictures from the show.
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Our next event is our first open house of 2012 on May 26th & 27th,
9am-5pm both days.
September 25, 2011
September Open House
We once again had great weather for the final open house of 2011, held on September 10/11.? We changed up the displays a little bit, showing off some of the other artifacts in the NRM collection.? We also added another motorcar for display, with our ex-CNR Fairmont M9g, being shown to visitors for the first time in about 4yrs.? Thanks to Bill Woods from the ONRT&HS society for coming out early Saturday to help set up, and to all the other NRM members who came out to help man the shop.? There was also a fair amount of work done out there on the Sunday, as Richard Berry still had his Caterpillar motor grader and gradall out there.? We’ve been wanting to do some preliminary work on the turntable pit, to see exactly what the condition is under all the fill.? A 10’x10′ test hole was dug, and I now know exactly where the roundhouse went after the fire in 1991. When the roundhouse was demolished, the remaining structure was used to fill in the pit.? A layer of topsoil covered the rubble. Preliminary inspection of the pit wall and base found it to be in very good condition.? The excavation of the pit itself is a ways off yet, but hopefully the rest of the pit is as good as our test hole.? We also graded the right of way for the continued track construction.? The north track of the shop has been graded about 125′ to allow a temporary track to be put in place in case we are able to move some of our equipment over during the winter.? This will be laid with 85lb rail for now.? The grading for the rest of the south and middle track was also done, and we hope to have part of the turnout to join the 2 tracks in place by winter.
September 4, 2011
Steam Era show in Milton
Traction Engine Lineup
The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. attended the 51st annual Steam Era power show in Milton on the Labour Day long weekend.? This is one of the largest events of it’s kind in Canada, and this years show featured numerous makes and models of farm tractors, construction equipment, and steam traction engines.? There were 10 traction engines under steam, and 2 smaller steam engines powering other equipment.? There were also vendors, some great food, a large Meccano display, and lots of items for sale in the flea market.? There was a large kids area, and quite a few antique cars & trucks to top things off.? There were garden tractor pulls Friday night, farm tractor pulls Saturday morning, and a country music show Saturday night.? Kevin Forster of Toronto also hooked his 20hp George White Traction engine up to the fan and put on a bit of a spark show on the Saturday night (he had also hooked it up to the tractor pull sled earlier in the day!)? Kevin also invited me up onto his machine to take it for a spin around the grounds, over an hour later, and after?joining the parade past the grandstand, we finally parked it.? Also had the opportunity to drive the big Sawyer Massey 75hp Steam traction engine with a friend, THRA member, and railroader, Michael Guy.? This was a great 2hr endeavour that also had us in the competition with the other traction engines.? This was an excellent weekend, and I must say that being able to drive the steam engines around the grouds were by far the highlight of the weekend.
My thanks to the NRM members that came out to help man the booth during the show, and to set up and tear down.? We’ve already been invited back next year, and we are looking forward to it.? Now we can turn our attention to our own event on September 10/11, 2011 at the NRM site in Fort Erie.
 Our Display |
 Traction engine lineup |
  Spark It Up! |
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 Ingram Road Roller |
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July 23, 2011
A very busy July
We’re now well past the halfway mark in July, and a busy month it has been.? It all started with Canada Day July 1st at Optimist Park.? We had our normal 2 table display, and promoted the new location for the NRM.? It was a fairly decent turnout, but it didn’t seem as busy as previous years.? With Canada Day out of the way, we then focused on our second open house of the year at the NRM shop in Fort Erie.? We had very good weather for this open house, but our crowds were still down a bit.? The Ontario Northland Railway Historical & Tech. Society, and the Southern Niagara Model Railroad Club both had a display at the event, which is always great to see.? My thanks to the guys from both groups who come out and take part in our events.
ONRH&TS display
The locomotives were all kept indoors again for this open house.? 46 once again had her headlight installed, and looked pretty good considering the deterioration.? While visitors couldn’t get into the cab on E-7, we did take some of the window panels off and allow them to see the inside.? Work on the interior has started, and if all goes well, the cab will be open for viewing in 2012.? The Plymouth was once again open for viewing, and is always a hit with the kids.
HEPC 46
The Museums HO Scale layout was also running again, this time with newly donated equipment.? The NRM secured a large donation of HO Scale Canadian prototype cars and locomotives from a local man in Niagara.? All of the equipment is currently in storage, and is being documented.? This equipment will be great for the model railway that we plan to construct.
HO Scale layout
My thanks to everyone who came out and helped at the event. Despite a lower than expected turnout, it was still a good weekend.? The next Open House is September 10/11, 2011, 10am to 4pm at the shop, 21 Warren St. Fort Erie.? For more information, please contact the Museum.
June 23, 2011
NRM Secures Museum Property!!
It is official.? After some 14yrs of trying to find a permanent home, the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. has secured a long term arrangement for the use of the former CNR diesel Shop and surrounding property in Fort Erie, Ont.? Plans are already underway for the rebuilding of the shop, starting with new windows to help keep the weather out. We have started our fundraising efforts, and are accepting donations for various projects.? The big one is the building fund.? The money raised for the building fund will go directly towards the upkeep of the shop itself.? The equipment fund maintains and restores our locomotives and cars, and the general fund goes towards everything else, like artifact acquisition and restoration.? If you would like to contribute to the NRM, please click on the Canada Helps like on our main page, for a secure online donation.
In other news, the next Museum Open House is coming up fast.? July 2, 3 & 4, 2011, 9am-4pm.? All 3 locomotives will be on display, there will be model train layouts, Ontario Northland Histocial Society, Southern Niagara Model Railway Club, motorcar rides, and other displays that are still being worked on.? Come on out and support Railway History in Niagara, as the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. works towards creating a Museum to showcase the vast railway heritage of the entire Niagara Region.
March 9, 2011
11th Annual NF Model Railway Show
Well, despite Mother Nature dropping a wonderful 6″+ of snow overnight, and making the roads all over the region very treacherous, the 11th Annual NF Model Railway Show was still a decent success.??4 vendors were not able to make it due to the road conditions, but those that did make it to the show had no complaints.? This was our first major fundraiser of the year, and it is always a great help to the Museum.? This years show once again had vendors from across Ontario, selling everything from photos to videos, to model trains.?We also had 4 layouts, Z, N, HO,?& G.? ?The NRM had a display as did the Fort Erie Historic Railway Association, a group raising funds to cosmetically restore and preserve CNR 4-8-4 #6218 in Fort Erie.? My thanks go to all the vendors who made it out to the show, and of course to all of our hard working Museum volunteers that gave up their day to work the NRM table, canteen, door and kitchen.? Our next major railway show is our Fall Model Railway Show which will be held on October 30th, 2011, at Optimist Park Hall.?
Also, stay tuned for more info on the first Niagara Railway Museum golf tournament.? Details will be coming shortly.
February 22, 2011
Niagara Falls Model Railway Show
The 11th annual NF Model Railway Show is now just a few days away, and it’s shaping up to be another great “spring” show, with 4 layouts, and vendors from across Ontario, selling everything from trains to t-shirts, collectibles to historic items.? There is definitly something for everyone.? Admission is still just $5 with under 12 admitted free with a paying adult.? As always, the best railway chili around will be available.? All proceeds go to support the Niagara Railway Museum, so come out and support the NRM as we proceed with our goals of creating a Railway Museum the entire Region can be proud of.
January 6, 2011
NRM Events page updated
The Events page for the Niagara Railway Museum has been updated with the shows we are attending, and putting on.? There are still more events to be added, but this is shaping up to be a very busy year.? Of special interest are the upcoming NF Model Railway Show on March 6th, and our first open house of the year, which will be held on May 14/15.? As always all proceeds made at any of our displays helps the NRM move closer to our final goals.? Support the NRM, and come out and see what we have to offer.
September 28, 2010
NRM update
While most work has stopped on the shop itself, other than routine cleaning, work continues on equipment restoration.? E-7 has had 2 footboards re-installed, and the restoration to operation of the Plymouth MDT40t is also progressing.? The diesel engine is said to be in very good condition, and we are currently tracking down a few minor parts needed to make it complete.? One of which is an air filter, which apparently is no longer available (what a suprise!!).? While it doesn’t look like there will be windows in the shop by the winter, we do have plans to use very heavy plastic sheeting to cover the windows, as much as we can anyways, to make the building a bit more weather proof.? We are also working on a new look to our website, and will soon be adding a link where visitors can make online donations to the Museum.? At this time, the NRM shop is closed, however, visitors are welcome by prior arrangement, or if any of our volunteers are at the shop the day you show up.? Admission is as always, by donation.? The Fall Niagara Falls Model Railway Show will be held on October 31st, 2010, 10am-3:30pm at Optimist Park Hall on Dorchester Rd in Niagara Falls.? Contact us for more information.