Preserving Railway History in the Heart of St. Thomas
The Elgin County Railway Museum celebrates the people, stories, and legacy of Canada’s railway industry.
Our History
The railway has been part of St. Thomas since the completion of the London and Port Stanley Railway in 1856 and since then, more than 26 railways have passed through the city. This provided the foundation for the birth of St. Thomas due to the provision of employment and, subsequently, the income to sustain the community.
Elgin County Railway Museum offers a variety of experiences for visitors. Explore the history of St. Thomas and the railway, get up close to locomotives in our Rolling Stock Gallery, or see the historic rail yards of our region from a bird's eye view through our History in Motion Room. Through field trips, summer programming, and regular tours our programs seek to engage visitors in all things rail related.
Exhibits & Displays
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St. Thomas: The Railway City
Learn how St. Thomas became “The Railway City” and discover the people, buildings, and rail lines that shaped its history.
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Rollling Stock Gallery
Explore historic steam, diesel, and electric engines, cabooses, and railcars. Step inside select vehicles to see where crews worked.
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History in Motion
See Southern Ontario’s railways come to life in our massive HO-scale model layout, complete with cities, rail yards, and interactive elements.
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BX Tower
Discover BX Tower, a historic rail control point that kept trains safe at one of St. Thomas’s busiest junctions.
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Wall of Fame
Honour the rail workers who shaped the industry. Search thousands of plaques to find family, friends, and heroes.
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Online Collection
Browse our digital database of artifacts, documents, and photographs from the museum’s collection.
Our Community Sponsors & Partners
LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that the Elgin County Railway Museum is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Chonnonton Nations. These lands are connected with the McKee Treaty of 1790 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. They remain home to diverse Indigenous Peoples today, whose histories, languages, and cultures we honour and respect.