Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario
90 William St West, PO Box 962 K7A 5A5 Smiths Falls, ON, Canada

There remains a goodly number of you who will remember the heady days of steam excursions around Eastern Ontario behind CPR #1201. The steam crews who operated her over the years were consummate, professional railroaders. Here, we see the 1988 crew, on the Vankleek Sub...(Photo: J.B.Leroux archives)

This coming weekend would have been, in all likelihood, our annual North Pole Express event for 2020. What we do have however, is hope...and the train crew and equipment will keep...for now. If you've ever traveled on our Christmas Train, please do so virtually for this year by following this website and looking forward, as we do, to a 2021 trip. We at RMEO miss you and wish you a safe and happy Holiday Season....(Photo by Page Admin)

Check out our Merry and Bright Box in partnership with the Town of Smiths Falls! This contains: Bandana x 1... Child Engineer Hat x 1 Train Whistle x 1 Train Noise Maker x 1 Classic Pull Back Train x 1 Station Post Cards x 2 Train Plush OR Engineer Teddy Bear x 1 Fidget Spinner x 1 Smiths Falls Walking Guide x 1 Smiths Falls Mug x 1 Smiths Falls Postcard x 1 All this for just $40.00! Purchase online at RMEO.square.site or phone us at 613-283-5696. Or come into the Museum Black Friday between 7:30 and 6:00! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/RMEO.sf for more or visit our online store at https://RMEO.square.site/

Master Mechanic Bill Ottney has essentially re-wired the entire locomotive to current standards....here we see 420 try her headlights and safety beacon briefly in the Restoration Shed....(Video by Page Admin)

CPR #1201 in 1988 in Eastern Ontario....a sight we yearn to see yet again....(Photos: J.B.Leroux archives)

Located beside the CPR Winchester Sub at Mileage 58.0 in Apple Hill, the King Edward still retains its unique signage. It opened in 1900 and sold liquor until 1912 when it stopped doing so due to the local temperance feelings of the time. It did not sell liquor again until 1978. Its local train station closed in 1968, after having serviced Apple Hill since 1887....(Information from flickriver...Photo by Page Admin)

A combination of fast freight train and blowing snow storm made this photograph on a Kodak Instamatic a challenge in December 1967 at Iroquois ON....this westbound is headed for the Broken Second crossing and then Cardinal on her travels to Toronto. The tracks remain but the station was closed in 1969 and little remains on this site....(Photo by Page Admin)

The CNR is performing some annual brush clearing beside one of the few remaining double-track main lines to experience....the scene at Cardinal ON (Mileage 104.9 Kingston Sub) features top-notch track and part of the Ingredion yard in the distance....(Photo by Page Admin)

Master Mechanic Bill Ottney lowers all RMEO flags for Winter storage to mark the conclusion of a very unique 2020 season....(Photo by Gilbert Lacroix)

Dining Car #4006 is now in the shed for the Winter. Samuel Rawlings grabbed the last ride on 4006 as Gilbert Lacroix, John Weir and Bill Ottney guided the car in the shed for Tony Humphrey in the engineer's seat. John Weir gave the hand signals at the coupler. Bill Ottney relayed the signals to Tony. Gilbert was at the lead end of the car deep in the shed. Steve Gemmill was assigned the other side of the car at the door. A van was used as an idler car as we don't permit the diesel to go inside the Shed. Only 2 inches of clearance on each side through the doors...)Photos by Gilbert Lacroix)

On a cold Saturday in January 1968, EB Train 406 digs into it as she departs Brockville with a clearance and fresh crew....(Photo by Page Admin)

Here are some pictures of today's moves. Engine 6591 was smoky on this damp, still morning. CNR van #79095 was brought out after it had received a coat of paint on the cupola by Steve Gemmill....(Photos by Gilbert Lacroix)

The Scherzer Lift Bridge today ... still awesome!

We’re so glad to take part in this! To get the hat, go to our online store at rmeo.square.site or come visit the Museum on November 27 for our Black Friday Sale! Get 10% off all items in store, by using code CNOR on the online or by just popping in Black Friday. And don’t forget to check out our Merry and Bright Box!

It's amazing how a little light snow can bring you back in time....(Photo by Tony Humphrey)

All seems in order at the Aultsville Rd crossing between Ingleside and Morrisburg on the CNR Kingston Sub. The crossover and detector plant help RTC manage this busy double-track main line....(Photo by Page Admin)

Taken at Fitzroy (Mileage 33.6 Beachburg Sub), the hi-rail inspection bus pauses to gather information and allow inspection of track. Led by Superintendent J.B.Leroux (dark suit), the trip "up the line" was likely very successful....(Photos: J.B.Leroux archives)

The CNoR station at Yarker ON (Telegraph call "KR") was located at Mileage 153.3 on the old Rideau Sub....on this day, a throng of interested townsfolk waits at the station....(Date and photographer unknown)

Certain individuals collect glass insulators and frequently ask how they were used......telegraph poles, telegraph wires......insulators come in many different shapes and colours.... https://www.cjow.com/archive/article.php

The Railway Museum will be holding our first ever Black Friday sale! Both online and in store. That's right, in store! We will be opening the gift shop doors between 7:30 am to 6:00 pm! Come in and get 10% off all items! Whether it's stylish apparel, cute teddy bears or, a pull back train, we have something for everyone!... And don't forget to check out our Merry and Bright Box while your here! Can't make it in? The sale is online too! Visit rmeo.square.site and use code CNOR at checkout! With flexible pick up times and local delivery, we'll be your one stop shop for all your Black Friday gifts! And don't forget to follow us on Facebook facebook.com/RMEOsmithsfalls or our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rmeo.sf/ and look out for our online store at rmeo.square.site ! #rmeo #experiencesmithsfalls #smithsfalls #railway #railways_of_canada #museum #railroad #railstation #followus #railways_of_our_world #railwayhistory #railwayheritage #railways_ig #railwaymuseumofeasternontario #railwayhistory #patreon #archives #blackfridaysale #blackfriday2020 #blackfriday #sale #localbusiness

Not usually associated together, Highland dancing and railroading make a compelling combination in these shots from the past. RMEO would appreciate any information regarding date, location and photographer...(Photos: RMEO archives)

A solitary box car sits in the station siding at Bancroft ON in the Fall of 1969. Bancroft was located at Mileage 85.87/ Telegraph call "BF" on the CNR Maynooth Sub. Notice the absence of graffiti on this car....normal for the times...Photo by Page Admin)

https://www.sudbury.com//cp-holiday-train-goes-virtual-thi

An all-MLW-Alco consist leads an EB Rapido out of Brockville on a hot afternoon in the Summer of 1966. Lead unit #6753 is an FPA-2 model, one of a handful on the CNR locomotive roster....(Photo: J.R. Dodd collection)

In early 1969, the "new" CNR station at Iroquois had been open just 12 years but was clearly on borrowed time. The tidy waiting room had not seen passengers in nearly three years....in the telegraph office (minus telegraph since 1967) the dispatcher's phone and train circuit indicator still functioned but the operator was now only a caretaker with little left to do. What had begun with such promise in 1957 after the Seaway re-location of the entire village had evolved into the reality of the end of an era in local railroading...(Interior photos by Page Admin)

The well-appointed and spacious Grand Trunk ticket office at Cornwall ON many decades ago...(Photo: Date and photographer unknown)

#420, our Brookville diesel/hydraulic locomotive, has been keeping a low profile to the outside world since the Spring. Our resolute and dedicated Master Mechanic, Bill Ottney has spent hundreds of hours rebuilding and refurbishing components....we will be running a unique feature on 420 in operation before Christmas to showcase its metamorphosis.....stay tuned....(Photo by Page Admin)

RMEO Builder and Volunteer Emeritus Alan Westland drives the last spike in Westland Curve in August 2018. Alan has been a dedicated supporter of RMEO for many decades and it was fitting the new section of track was named after him. He designed and calculated the entire building of the curve, a section of track that connects our station to Rideau Yard.....(Photo by Rian Manson)

"It's a Wrap!" Lifetime Movie at RMEO Friday October 2020 Submitted by Kathy Botham "It's a wrap!" At about 4am this morning, filming this portion of a new... Lifetime movie "The Christmas Set Up" was completed at our Railway Museum here in Smiths Falls. The clean up started immediately. Decorations are coming down, trains will be moved back in their place at the museum and a crew will come in a disinfect this Hallmark movie set. John Mulkerns and Sam Rawlings from our Railway Museum have been "on location" for more than 24 hours. John said he caught a couple hours sleep this morning in one of the cabooses. Engineer Tony Humphreys has a part in this movie and has been here over the past few days as well. It has been a busy couple days with actors, extras, movie directors and employees along with our RMEO members at our Railway Museum. As quickly as this set went up, it is back to business as usual at our museum as they are getting ready for people to arrive to use our cabooses as an Air B and B tonight. This Lifetime movie will be released this year. Watch for "The Christmas Set Up" and the part our town of Smiths Falls, its people and our Railway Museum took part in. See more

In lieu of our annual Doors Open event, we wanted to give you a sneak peak behind the doors of the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario's newest gem: the Dining Car.

Our Old Smiths Falls Mugs are now on sale for $15.00! To purchase yours, contact us at 613-283-6311 or [email protected] The Heritage House team send...s our warmest wishes for a safe and happy holiday season! #smithsfalls #sfheritagehouse #shoplocal #experiencesmithsfalls #smithsfallshistory

As she has a number of times in the past, #6568 willing makes a periodic "organ donation" to RMEO #6591, providing much-needed electrical parts needed to keep our locomotive operating. Without the generous assistance of the kind folks at the SRM, we could not operate as we do....

Communications Specialist Steve Gemmill was ably assisted by volunteers of the B&B (Bridge and Building) Gang as they erected yet another telegraph pole beside Swamp Siding....Tony, Fred, John and Steve spent a day in the cold, sunny weather completing this arduous task....(Photos by Tony Humphrey) Read about the traditional role of this work gang and others here: http://www.okthepk.ca/dataCprSi/articles/201202/month00.htm

An archival shot of this beautiful building in Town....(Date and photographer unknown)

Racine rail saw in action at RMEO....Patience and a bit of cutting oil help to make this job an accurate process....(Video by Page Admin)

As close to being alive as any mechanized object could be, #6060 boils and hisses as she pauses at Brockville during an excursion run in the 1970's...(Photo by Page Admin)

Three MLW-Alco locomotives grind their guts out as they lift a heavy eastbound toward Brockville and eventually Montreal....(Photo O.McKee archives)

CPR Royal Hudson #2850 and RMEO locomotive #6591 (then owned by CPR) at the Hershey Plant in Smiths Falls in the 1960's....(Photo CSTM archives)

A number of years ago, two different types of scale test cars were seen at Cardinal, likely having done their duties at the local Ingredion Plant....(Photo by Page Admin)

The Canadian Northern station at Belleville, ON....(Date and photographer unknown)

A westbound passes Brockville CNR station in 1977 as crews change for the run to Belleville and beyond....Brockville was a busy terminal, being served by both CNR and CPR.....(Photo by Page Admin)

At one time, the CNR was a major force in the city of Ottawa, providing passenger and freight service in a timely manner...this diagram from 1974 shows the extent of its Ottawa operations. Today, little remains to remind people of its presence in our Nation's Capital....(RMEO archives)

British military equipment moving east through Avonmore on Oct.1, apparently on its way home after exercises in western Canada. (Photo by Craig Stevenson)

Trainman John Weir (L) and Roadmaster Fred Bain (R) keep watchful eyes during a reverse movement to Rideau Yard from Rideau Junction through Westland Curve....Trainfest 2019...(Photo by Page Admin)

Steve Gemmill painted a first coat of orange on Wednesday while Gilbert Lacroix applied a temporary coat of black tar to the upper cupola roof and short roof. Next year, the plan will be to replace the other two roofs. Next spring, the interior ceiling needs some work and a clean up before it is put back into overnight service. We are almost ready to move #79095 to the outside to make room for Dining Car #4006. (Photo by Gilbert Lacroix)

A clear order board and a clear stack....CNR Mountain-type 4-8-2 #6060 drifts by Coaticook Quebec on an excursion run in September 1974...(Photo courtesy of Stan Smaill)

RMEO is asking for your input to help identify the approximate time period portrayed by the photo of this map....

It is the Summer 0f 1974 at Coaticook, Quebec on the CNR (GTR) as eastbound #394 meets the Windsor Quebec switcher, Work Extra 4486....the switcher crew will do an inspection of the freight as it passes the station...(Photo courtesy of Stan Smaill)

Lancaster was located at Mileage 53.94 on the old CNR Cornwall Sub (Telegraph call "SE")....note the early train order signal...(Photo RMEO archives)

In June 1971, a CNR switcher and van pose at Alexandria ON station with some of the "red fleet" in the adjacent siding. Somehow this locomotive has escaped the black/white/orange "new" paint scheme that has befallen her sisters over the past 8 years...(Photo by Page Admin)

RMEO is fortunate to have railroad china and silverware from CNR and CPR...featured is a CPR table setting that conveys the elegance of a bygone era....(Photo by Chris Uhlig)