Toronto Railway Historical Association

Type: Historical Society

This association aims to assemble, conserve, preserve, and research artefacts and objects relating to the development of the railway history of Toronto, promote the study of railway history through liaisons with educational institutions, and communicate this history through multiple media. The TRHA also operates the Toronto Railway Museum in three stalls of the restored roundhouse as well as throughout Roundhouse Park.

Programming:

Conservation / Preservation:

Artefacts

This museum houses a collection of artefacts relating to nineteenth and twentieth century railway history, including a roundhouse, an 1896 railway station, an 1894 interlocking tower, a steam locomotive, cabooses, passenger and freight cars, a gatehouse, cranes, and railway machine shop equipment and machinery.

Archives

A nascent archive will ultimately offer an extensive library of railway-related material. The collection will be made available online. A special collection will be dedicated to the history of the United Aircraft TurboTrain, Canada’s fastest train, which operated between Toronto and Montreal from 1968 to 1982. Presently, the collection includes internal Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railway documents, drawings, artefacts, and other ephemera.

Public Programming:

Exhibitions

  • Visitors can explore and interact with several displays, including, the restored Canadian Pacific Railway John Street Roundhouse, and several historic locomotives and passenger and freight cars, with signs and plaques documenting their origin and history.
  • A ride on a miniature railway through Roundhouse Park
  • The TRHA Facebook page is updated daily with information about museum events as well as photographs and information about Toronto railway history.
  • Occasional public lectures on railway history.

Volunteer/Internship/Placement Opportunities:

Volunteers assist in the restoration of items in the museum’s collection, interpreting artifact history, and preparing exhibitions.

Address & Contact Information:

255 Bremner Blvd., Unit 15
Toronto, ON
M5V 3M9

Phone: Contact by email or regular mail
Email: info@trha.ca
Website: http://www.trha.ca/

Hours of Operation:

Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday year-round; daily July & August.

Key Words: railway, transportation