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The Canadian Railway Museum
Exporail
Le Musée ferroviaire canadien
Exporail
Crm trains1.jpg
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Established 1961
Location Saint-Constant, Quebec, Canada
Type Railway museum
Collection size 160 vehicles, 190,000 documents and artifacts, 10,000 small artifacts, a centennial railway station, 690 model trains
Visitors 47,326 (2011-12)
Owner Canadian Railroad Historical Association

The Canadian Railway Museum (French: (Le) Musée ferroviaire canadien), operating under the brand name Exporail in both official languages, is a rail transport museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec, Canada, on Montreal's south shore.

Collection

Established in 1961 by its owner and operator, the Canadian Railroad Historical Association, the museum maintains the largest collection of railway equipment in Canada with over 140 pieces of rolling stock. There are also over 250,000 objects and documents from Canada's railway history in the collection which is maintained in the archives on the property.

The museum operates a heritage streetcar line around the grounds as well as a heritage railway which pulls a small passenger train on a former freight spur to Montée des Bouleaux. The streetcar operates daily during the spring, summer and fall while the railway operates every Sunday during the same period.

Three engines that did not operate in service in Canada but have a 'Canadian connection' are SNCF 030-841 3-030.C.841, LB&SCR A1 class 54 Waddon & LNER Class A4 4489 Dominion of Canada, two of which are British in origin and the third is French.

The museum underwent a significant expansion during the 2000s when the Angus Exhibit Pavilion opened. Some of the most valuable items were placed in the new pavilion, which became the main exhibition building.

One of the most notable artifacts is former Canadian Pacific locomotive #2850, with a 4-6-4 wheel arrangement, known as a "Hudson type". In 1939, this particular locomotive was responsible for pulling the Royal train carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the westbound leg of their trip across Canada. Because of this, #2850 and all engines of its class (H1c/H1d #2820-2859, H1e #2860-2864), were redesignated as Royal Hudsons. This did not include the H1a/H1b classes #2800-2819.

Steam Locomotives

Railroad Configuration Class Number Notes
Canadian Pacific Railway 4-4-4 F1a No. 2928 Undergoing cosmetic restoration
Canadian Pacific Railway 4-6-4 H1e No. 2850
Canadian National Railway 4-8-4 U2c No. 6153
Canadian Pacific Railway 4-4-0 A2q No. 144
Canadian National Railway 4-6-2 Pacific No. 5550
Canadian Pacific Railway 4-6-2 G-3 No. 2341
Canadian Pacific Railway 2-10-4 Selkirk No. 5935
London Brighton and South Coast Railway, UK 0-6-0 A1 Terrier LB&SCR A1 class Terrier number 54 Waddon This locomotive was donated by British Railways, the former state-owned rail company in the United Kingdom.
London and North Eastern Railway, UK 4-6-2 A4 4489 Dominion of Canada This locomotive was once on display for a two-year hiatus at the National Railway Museum in York, England.
SNCF, France 0-6-0 030-841 3-030.C.841
Grand Trunk Railway New England Lines 2-6-0 Mogul No. 713

Diesel Locomotives

Manufacturer Model Class Number Notes
Canadian Locomotive Company Canadian National 77 Donated 1968
Montreal Locomotive Works FPA-4 Canadian National 6765 Donated 1968
Montreal Locomotive Works FA-1 Canadian National 9400 The 9400 was transferred to the Exporail site in 1989 and restored in 2000.
C.E. Brooks Rail Motor Car Canadian National 15824 Retired in 1964
Montreal Locomotive Works RS-18 MR-18c Canadian National 3684 Acquired in 1992
Montreal Locomotive Works C-424 DRS-24c CP Rail 4237 Retired in 1998
Montreal Locomotive Works M-630 DRF-30d CP Rail 4563 Retired in 1994
Montreal Locomotive Works M-640 DRF-36d CP Rail 4744 Acquired in 1998
Stone Franklin Switcher Canadian Pacific 7000 Acquired in 1965
Montreal Locomotive Works S-2 DS-10h Canadian Pacific 7077 Acquired in 1985
Canadian Locomotive Company H24-66 DRS-24c Canadian Pacific 8905 Retired in 1976
General Motors Diesel GP-9RM AMT 1311 Acquired in 2011
Plymouth Gatineau Power Company 12012 Acquired in 1972
Railpower Green Kid RPRX 2003
Montreal Locomotive Works RS-2 Roberval & Saguenay 20
Montreal Locomotive Works M420W SLQ 3569 Retired in 2003
Bombardier LRC VIA 6921 Retired in 2001
GMD SD40-2 Canadian Pacific 5903 Retired in 2018

Images for kids

See also

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Canadian Railway Museum Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.