Keasha Maile, FEO, May 1, 2025, VOL. 6 ISSUE 17
The Niagara Railway Museum is full steam ahead for the 2025 season, and Director Ken Jones can’t wait to welcome guests back through the doors.
“Honestly, I’m just looking forward to another great year,” Jones shared, standing in front of the historic shop building in Stevensville. “This will be the first full season with the upper office area open for use, not only when we’re open to the public, but also for visiting groups holding meetings there. It’s a big milestone for us.”
Located at 21 Warren Street in Fort Erie, the museum is gearing up for its opening weekend with maintenance projects, cleanup, and a fresh lineup of displays. This season, one of the major undertakings is working on the museum’s 1948 GE diesel locomotive, which has undergone a series of repairs since its donation.
“It had some minor issues when we got it,” Jones explained. “Last season, we started tackling the air brakes and drive system, and we’re hoping to get it painted this year. A big piece of that work has been replacing part of the drive sprocket, it’s been missing teeth since before we acquired it. Plus, we’re working on new window glass for the doors.”
While the GE is a highlight this year, it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle that makes up the Niagara Railway Museum’s evolving collection. Projects range from track construction to restoring the cab of a 1920 steam locomotive. They’re all done by a small but passionate group of volunteers, and the museum is always looking for more.
“We’re a very small group, unfortunately,” Jones admitted. “So, everyone just kind of jumps in where they’re needed. One day, you might be sweeping floors or cutting grass; the next, you’ll be laying track or chatting with visitors about railway history. There’s never a shortage of work when the season’s going.”
That spirit of teamwork is part of what makes the museum so special and so vital to the community.
“Support from the community, and abroad, helps us grow,” Jones said. “It allows us to create new displays and rotate items so there’s always something new to see. We aren’t perfect, but we do our best. We take guest feedback seriously and try to implement what we feasibly can.”
Community involvement goes beyond visiting, though. The museum is actively seeking new members and board volunteers. No special skills are required, just a willingness to help.
“There’s so much we want to do,” Jones said with a smile. “One of our big goals is to add another track for outdoor storage. Right now, we’ve got some railcars in the way, and we’d love to move them off to the side where they can still be displayed but won’t block other things. And there’s the roof on our Canadian National Railway snow flanger, plus painting work on the CN diesel cab and the GE. And then there’s the steam engine cab replacement. Like I said, never a shortage of work.”
The Niagara Railway Museum may be a hidden gem, but it’s powered by a community of passionate railway lovers eager to share that love with the next generation. Whether you’ve got a knack for fixing things or want to be part of something historic, now’s the time to hop aboard.
The museum opens for the 2025 season this spring. For more information on hours, tours, or how to get involved, visit www.nfrm.ca.
“We’re always looking for new faces,” said Jones. “If you love trains, history, or just want to help, we’d love to have you.”
