Jack May's visit to the Deslon Canadian Railway Museum

[daveklepper]

On Saturday afternoon, October 26, I took leave of an art tour and drove out St. Constant, near Delson on the other side of the St. Lawrence River, to visit Exporail, a large museum devoted to Canadian railroading.  It is difficult (but not impossible) to get there by public transportation, but short and simple by private automobile.  I had been there many decades ago, and at that time I considered the facility not much more than a home for rusting equipment.  But now it is quite respectable, with many permanent exhibits in substantial buildings and some tracks for operations as well.  I am sure it will continue to prosper and will become a national treasure, much like the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

 

It is operated by the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and features both mainline and branch railroading, as well as electric traction.  On the traction side they have about 4 operating streetcars and an electrified loop line that circles the property and passes many outdoor exhibits.  Their roster consists of over 25 streetcars and interurbans, with many on display on two of the twelve tracks inside the Angus Exhibit Pavilion, the museum’s main building.  The building itself is quite impressive and huge, with two floors that include a gift shop, coffee shop, model railroad and multimedia displays.

 

I have traveled extensively by rail in Canada over the last 55 years, experiencing beautiful scenery and a plethora of different types of equipment, from streamlined domeliners to heavyweight open window coaches to Budd RDC cars and doodlebugs, riding over beautifully manicured transcontinental and intercity mainlines, electrically-operated and diesel commuter services, as well as mixed trains on meandering branch lines.  In addition to famous historical equipment, there are a great deal of memories for me in the museum.  Included in the collection is the original Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson, No. 2850, which pulled the Royal Trains carrying King George and Queen Elizabeth across Canada.  There are also quite a few steam, diesel and electric locomotives, and all sorts of sleeping cars, coaches and combines, as well as work equipment, with an emphasis on fighting the extreme amounts of snow and cold, for which Canada is notable.  A number of the exhibits deal with another aspect of railroading that was probably unique to Canada (at least compared to the U. S.):  providing necessary services to an indigenous population lacking access to the outside world.  Because of the few roads in the north, there were mobile libraries and schools with steel wheels.  Only a few years ago I recall that school children were still being carried on freight only branches in British Columbia.

 

But my real love is streetcars, and as mentioned earlier, there are a great many on display.  Most are from Montreal, which had a wonderful historical collection of equipment that was donated to the museum after the Montreal Transportation Commission MTC) ended streetcar service in that city.  I was there, on August 30, 1959, when the last two lines, Rosemont and Papineau, were converted to bus, and a parade of this rolling stock was held, under the banner, La Fin D’Une Epoque.  (Unfortunately, I didn’t begin taking slides until well after this event.)  But I do recall seeing many of the cars from the parade in the Angus building on 

collection consists of many cars, large and small, double- and single-truck, from various eras that include a PCC and one of Montreal’s iconic observation cars (the museum has two and one is operable).  There are also some interurban cars and freight motors from other properties, including the Montreal & Southern Counties and the London & Port Stanley, as well as a number of examples of work equipment.

 

Among the “moving” exhibits are model trains, a garden railway and the streetcar line that encircles the property.  Car 1959, a typical Montreal one-man unit was operating, and I rode it for a couple of trips, and also photographed it in a few locations.  There are also plenty of locomotives outdoors, which are easy to photograph without too much clutter.  The museum offers escorted tours every hour or so, but all but one are in conducted in the French language.  But there was one scheduled in English, and as it turned out I was the only taker.  The young man was quite knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and I was especially pleased that he appreciated the stories I told him of my experiences from well before he was born, riding Montreal’s streetcars, pre-Via transcontinental (and mixed) trains, as well as both the Greater Winnipeg Water District’s doodlebug and former Pacific Great Eastern Budd car service.  He indicated that the museum is connected to Canada’s national rail network, and can operate some of its equipment beyond the museum’s ground for special events.

[lenzfamily]

Dave

It is indeed all of the above. I haven't been there for many years. Used to hear and see lots when my Father in Law was still working for CN.(He worked in the Pointe, Superintendent/General Foreman of Engineering Millwrighting, Pipefitting, Plant Power and Steam . I used to bowl with he and some of his shop buddies in Verdun when we'd visit.) We'd have a few beers (quarts) too and I'd hear lots then.  Ma and Dad moved to Ontario after he retired so I kind of lost touch with that end of things.  Delson was good museum then, if small. IMHO in the last 15 or so years they really have become a class act from what I've heard. No SteamTown, I believe, but pretty good all the same.

Charlie 

Chilliwack, BC

[Firelock76]

It would probably be a great idea if Steamtown would donate that CP "Jubilee"  4-4-4 they've got disgracefully rusting away to Exporail, if they don't have one already.  Hey, if you can't take care of it, give it to someone who can!   

[cx500]

Exporail already has a CPR Jubilee, the 2928, so they don't need a second.  At the end of steam they developed a comprehensive collection plan to preserve a representative cross section of historic and/or typical steam locomotives.  Unfortunately a few desirable classes had already been scrapped; they would have preferred a 3000 series Jubilee since one of that group set the official Canadian speed record for steam.

John

[Firelock76]

Well that's good.  Maybe someone else in Canada could use it.  Like I say, it's a shame to have it rust away for lack of funds to keep it up.

[lenzfamily]

[

cx500

Exporail already has a CPR Jubilee, the 2928, so they don't need a second.  At the end of steam they developed a comprehensive collection plan to preserve a representative cross section of historic and/or typical steam locomotives.  Unfortunately a few desirable classes had already been scrapped; they would have preferred a 3000 series Jubilee since one of that group set the official Canadian speed record for steam.

John

Sad, But true.

My father in law (God rest him) ran the scrapping (He called them the cutting tracks) tracks at Cote Ste Luc Yard, Montreal when he first went  to CN from CRS. His gangs probably took the desirable classes without even thinking about it. I remember him saying they went through engines  pretty fast. He never even saved a bell for himself.

Geez........

Charlie

Chilliwack, BC

[D&HRetiree]

Nice article -- we will overlook the typo in the listing.

I have been to the Museum a number of times and indeed it is better every time. Being a model railroader also, I usually schedule my visits for their Model Railroad weekend in August. This past August Montreal Street Railways # 3, the operational "Golden Chariot" was oprating on the streetcar loop.

For those like me who have ridden and observed Canadian Railroading some of the engines I have seen and/or ridden behind are now at ExpoRail! I do wish that ExpoRail had acquired CN/TT  narrow gauge (3'6")  van # 6060 for the collection. At least she is preserved in Bonavista Nfld. The 6060 was on the mixed the day a friend and I rode over the Gaff from Windsor to Corner Brook.

[Firelock76]

I would have loved to have ridden the Newfoundland Railway, at least for a short trip, but sadly by the time I got there in 1992 it was gone.  I did get the souvenir Newfoundland Railway sweatshirt though!

Newfoundland's still worth visiting for the seafood.  Pan-fried cod tongues!  Yum!  I'm serious!  They're great!

[daveklepper]

fireplock, did you email me already at [e-mail] so I could send you a pdf of my "Newfy Bullet"photos as a return attachment?

[Firelock76]

No Dave, if someone did that wasn't me.  Actually, courtesy of my brother-in-law I've got the complete collection of "Tales Of The Rails", five volumes comcerning the history of the Newfoundland Railway.  Needless to say got them from the souce up in Newfoundland, he used to visit quite frequently in the '90s.

It's probably the only set in the state of Virginia.

No need for you to e-mail me with "Newfie Bullet" photos, but thanks so much for the offer!

In fact, I've got an 8 X 10 glossy of the "Newfie Bullet" that I picked up on my first trip there.  It's framed and proudly hanging in the Newfoundland corner of Lady Firestorms kitchen.

[daveklepper]

Well,, you are well equipped to be the Forum's Newfoundland RR historian.  But I am glad I rode the train while it ran.

[Firelock76]

Hi Dave!  I forgot the other three books I've got on Newfoundland railroading.  "Next Stop, Saint Johns", "Next Stop, Trinity Loop", and "Next Stop, Wreckhouse."   Wreckhouse, how's that for a name?

Yeah, I guess I'd be the go-to guy for Newfoundland Railway lore, but I sure wish I could have ridden it like you did.  You seem to have a God-given genius for being in the right place at the right time!

Again, my Newfoundland Railway books came courtesy of my brother-in-law, fellow railfain and master of things "N" Gauge,  whom the family affectionately calls "Mr. Grumpy". 

[daveklepper]

But I missed out on riding the old Pacific Electric, even though my first visit to LA was when it was still running to Long Beach.  Jack Purcell, in charge of BBN's office in LA, wanted to make use of every minute of my time in LA, since my travel from Boston (air) and return was on overhead.  He did consent for my visit to the JBL sound system equipment factory, which benefited both BBN and JBL in the long run.

Again, I saw Springfield Terminal and London and Port Stanley interurban cars from windows of steam trains, but never rode those interurbans.   Shortly before moving to Jerusalem I had a very tough job in that Maryland Univesity Town that is the terminal of the short-line steam excursion Western Maryland remnant, and even though my trip to and from was via Amtrak's Capitol Limited (and connecting architect client's car), I would have also loved to have ridden the steam triain, with the client, sound system contractor, University facilities boss, and I having lunch in the restaurant that was the railroad station, and the steam train puffing into town during our lunch.   No time.   Much of the sound system had been improperly wired, and my check-out visit was a repair and recallibration visit instead, with the work completed just in time for my scheduled departure.   Ah, Frostberg in the name of the place.

My guest, Lord John Greton, owner of Great Western Pendennis Castle (4-6-0) was on the throttle on Nelson Blount's 2-8-0 pulling the excursion train from Brattleboro to Chester, while I paced along in my 54 Ford Mainline, to pick up John at the other end.  Never did get to actually ride the line myself, let alone a cab ride!   (Lord Greton's widow, Lady Jenny Grreton, is CEO of the Revanglass and Ecksdale, and I have ridden that line several times, steam mineature narrow gauge, acxtually before she took over the line.)

But you are rigiht, and I should continualliy thank the Eternal for the good opportunities that did come my way.