7) Visitor Services

7.1 Parking

  • Parking is conveniently arranged along the Museum site with easy access from the highway


  • Traffic is one-way along the front of the Museum, so please watch for the entrance signs from the highway which are clearly marked


  • Parking is also available across the highway 3/95 and accessible by a special crosswalk directly in front of the Museum entrance doors


7.2 Pedestrian Access

  • Walking to and from the Museum is very convenient along the walking/cycling pathway from all directions, from the parking lots, from the Prestige Hotel and Van Horne Park, from the downtown area via the new crosswalk across highway 3/95 or along the path to the former Museum site and across a controlled light intersection and into the downtown.

7.3 Handicapped Access

  • The Museum is entirely handicapped accessible, except for access to the railcars which are too narrow with fragile paneling inside to permit wheelchairs, walkers, or other mechanical means.


  • Access for handicapped for viewing the cars is done using the raised viewing corridors, which allows viewing through the windows of the cars, but not access inside the cars.
  • Until the corridors are completed (expected mid-2006) prior arrangements are necessary for this access.


  • A lift services the four levels of the main museum buildings, and information on this can be obtained at the front counter.


7.4 Railcar Viewing Corridors

  • The Museum has constructed a raised and roofed "viewing corridor", with ramps, for easier access to and from the 16 cars on track #1.


7.5 Gift Shop - Museum Store

Click here for details.

7.6 Washrooms

  • The Museum has large and well-appointed washrooms conveniently located just off the main entrance.


  • utomatic faucets, electric dryers, excellent ventilation are some of the features of these facilities capable of dealing with many people at a time

7.7 Pets

  • Pets cannot be permitted in the building or railcars

7.8 Backpacks and Other Large Items Carried

  • Larger items cannot be carried into the fragile paneled cars, and visitors may want to leave these items in their cars. This includes large packs, cameras or larger video or camera equipment, and baby carriages, etc.


  • Staff may be able to allow some items to be stored temporarily for a tour, but this cannot be guaranteed.

7.9 Railcar Tours Group Booking and Maximum Numbers

  • The historic railcar collection is large and access to the fragile paneled interiors is with a tour guide only.


  • The maximum number for tours with a guide is 10, and cannot be exceeded at any time. The number may be increased to 20 with a back-up guide, but this must be arranged in advance.


  • There is no provision for exceeding 20 people/tour due to safety and security requirements, as well as to maintain a quality tour in the small spaces of the fragile-paneled railcars.


  • There are several tours of the specific parts of the collection, and prices vary according to age, (senior, student, family, etc.) the number of tours booked, and the number of people in groups, if applicable.

Click here for details on schedule and prices for winter 2005-06

  • It is essential that all groups over 10 pre-book their tour to guarantee a time and place on the tour schedule.


  • Groups over 20 will be divided into groups not exceeding 20, and extra staff must be arranged for this in advance, so pre-booking is essential.

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