Elgin County Railway Museum - Historic Places Days

Elgin County Railway Museum

St. Thomas, Ontario
Type
Museum/Gallery
Address
225 Wellington Street, St. Thomas, ON, Canada
Get directions
Hours
Please see our website for 2023 open hours: www.ecrm.ca.
Phone
519-637-6284

When the railway first came through St. Thomas, Ontario in 1856 – with the London & Port Stanley line – no one could have predicted the importance the railways would play in the growth and success of the city. With the development of the Canada Southern Line through the city in 1872, the small town of St. Thomas was ushered into an era of prosperity and had the city known as the “Railway Capital of Canada.” Location was key, as the city lies almost directly between Buffalo and Detroit, and offered a more direct route between the two destinations. By the early 20th century St. Thomas was a North American Railway hub, with 5 railways running through the city, and over 150 freight and passenger trains a day.

By 1913, the Canada Southern Railway had become the Michigan Central Railroad, and it was during this year that the Michigan Central Railroad Repair Shops were built. An article from the St. Thomas Daily Times – March 28, 1914 with the headline “M.C.R.’s New Quarter Million Dollar Shops Nearly Completed”, demonstrates the significance of this building and the impact it has on the community – “The completion of these works places St. Thomas among the leading railway divisional centres, in point of equipment, on the American continent and no effort has been spared either by the Michigan Central Railroad or the contractors to make both the buildings and the equipment the most up-to-date possible to obtain.” This new industrial building also impacted the community economically, employing more than 400 workers at its peak.

The Elgin County Railway Museum has been housed in the 52,000 square foot building since its incorporation in 1989 and purchased the property in 2010. The Museum has grown from a small solely volunteer run institution to a growing and thriving organization with dedicated staff, opportunities for summer employment, and a foundation of strong volunteers that has blossomed over the past 30 years. We look forward to continuing to grow in our community and provide a bond to our city’s history and future as “The Railway City”.

Amenities

  • Family-Friendly
  • Guided Tour
  • Parking
  • Washrooms
  • Wheelchair Access

Location

225 Wellington Street, St. Thomas, ON, Canada
Get directions

Nearby Places

Canada Southern Station (CASO) / North America Railway Hall of Fame (NARHF)

St. Thomas, Ontario
A historic railway station renovated into a gorgeous event venue with a museum upstairs!
View Place | Get Directions

BX Tower

St. Thomas, Ontario
A historic railway control station constructed to prevent accidents on rail lines.
View Place | Get Directions

St. Thomas Elevated Park

St. Thomas, Ontario
Canada’s first and only elevated park!
View Place | Get Directions

Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site

Fingal, Ontario
Walk where Canada’s earliest inhabitants did and imagine the Attiwandaron longhouses
View Place | Get Directions

Popular VisitLists Including "Elgin County Railway Museum"

All Aboard! Railway History Across Canada

Toronto, Ontario to Orangedale, Nova Scotia 20 places
Love trains? Us too! Hop on board and explore these railway heritage sites and museums!
View VisitList

Summer of Finnegan

Gananoque, Ontario to Essex, Ontario 20 places
An adventure packed summer before starting school!
View VisitList

St. Thomas Railway Heritage Sites

St. Thomas, Ontario 4 places
Visit St. Thomas, ON and discover why we’re called The Railway City!
View VisitList

Southern Ontario

Petrolia, Ontario to St. Thomas, Ontario 8 places
A list of amazing places to visit that are found in Southern Ontario.
View VisitList

Register A Place

Create an account to add your historic place.

Make a VisitList

Welcome! To get started on a VisitList, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays.


Already have an account? to sign in.
We use your contact information to process your registration and correspond with you about the National Trust and its programs. You can unsubscribe at any time. We care about your privacy. Read our privacy statement.

Sign In

Sites that participate in #HistoricPlacesDays need to have an account.

Welcome! To get started on a new VisitList or to edit an existing one, you’ll need to have an account with #HistoricPlacesDays. Sign in below!


Not registered? Click here to create an account.

Forgot Password

Enter your email address to request a password reset.


to sign in.

Get the latest scoop on everything #HistoricPlacesDays – join our e-newsletter and never miss a beat.