These images show the museum's official site plan. We're not there yet obviously, but are working hard to develop the site according to this design. Major initiatives currently underway, such as the mainline realignment and filling low areas, are important steps toward the site development.

Join with us, and help to make it happen!

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

A major, multi-year project to fill low areas of the property. This will allow eventual construction of track and display buildings per our official site plan once completed.

The fill on the south side of the mainline, approximately five acres, is now complete. Approximately 2500 truckloads of fill have gone into the property over the last eight years!

The project started in October 2004, with the placement of 120 loads of fill from the construction of the new Quattrocchi warehouse annex, and material from the museum property. In the summer of 2005, vast quantities of fill were received from a major reconstruction of the lower part of Church Street in Smiths Falls. Many smaller amounts of fill have been received as well from other projects. Starting in September 2008, another major effort began, which would add over 1500 additional loads of fill from two major local projects- the new Smiths Falls water filtration plant, and the redevelopment of the Smiths Falls Hospital.

As of April 2012, the last of the new fill has been able to settle for a year and a half, while the rest has settled as much as eight years already.

The museum contracted with a major local excavating/ road building contractor, Tackaberry Construction, based in Athens, Ontario, to level this entire area, to a height which will allow a sufficient depth of clean ballast below all new trackage. This company has long supported RMEO through donated crushed stone, and they did this work at an extremely fair cost.

The grading was completed on 17-18 April, 2012.

As other major construction projects in Smiths Falls allow, filling work will continue north of the mainline.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Major track project undertaken to shift mainline to new alignment per our official site plan. This will allow optimal arrangement of switches to serve future display and shop buildings.

Volunteers are more than welcome! If interested, please contact the museum.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

CPR 6591, MLW S-3, built 1957, and maintained in operating condition
for service at RMEO.

When donated in 1985, 6591 was basically sound, but was heavily
cannibalized and vandalized. Our volunteers restored the locomotive
to operation by 1987. We owe thanks to many employees of CPR, CNR,
and various locomotive parts suppliers for their help as we searched for
replacements for the missing parts and for their advice in putting the
"jigsaw puzzle" together again.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

A Trackmobile is a form of tractor, built by the Whiting Corporation, which can run on roads or rails. It is used to move cars at industries. By putting down its rubber wheels, it can leave the rails and move to another area, reducing the time required to switch cars.

This Model 2TMA gas powered (Jeep engine) 55 HP.Trackmobile came from the Smiths Falls chocolate plant of Hershey Canada. It has 8400 lbs. tractive effort on the rails. While the plant is closed, the Trackmobile remains as a reminder of the sweet treats created there over the years.


Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

17 November 2010 was moving day... CN 55400 is now safely at RMEO!

We have been extremely fortunate ...more

to receive donation of this excellent example of the railway snowplow, with important Eastern Ontario provenance, from Canadian National. CN # 55400 is a large, modern single track plow built by National Steel Car of Hamilton, Ontario in 1935. This is one of the last plows built for Canadian railways, and was available for service until 2008.

The car weighs 65,700 pounds, is 33'10" in length (over the coupler pulling faces), and is 16'1" tall over the rail head. Its maximum width is 11'0" (the lower rib on the wings).

It has a flanger blade on the nose of the main blade, which is operated by compressed air from the brake system. The wings on either side are air operated as well, and serve the same purpose as the wing plow on a highway snowplow- to fling the snow far away from the track while the plow is pushed along at a quick pace.

The faster the speed, the better these plows cleared the track. Often plows would be run above the maximum track speed on branch lines, to allow proper clearing.

A high- mounted cupola allowed good visibility for the plow crew, who directed the locomotive engineer. The engineer was often driving blind, with his vision totally obstructed by snow building up on his cab windows and swirling around behind the plow!

At some point in the 55400’s career on CN, the cupola front was rebuilt with a sloping profile which reduced snow buildup.

Plows usually had an ancient design of truck under the front end, hidden under the blade. 55400 is no exception. These special archbar trucks had no springs but instead large wooden blocks were substituted to minimize rocking motion of the top- heavy blades. No brake rigging was to be found on the front truck.

The car's original plain journal bearing rear truck was replaced with a roller bearing caboose truck at some point in the car's life, but the original archbar truck is still under the front end.

We plan to install an older cast frame, solid bearing truck under the rear at some point after the plow arrives in Smiths Falls. Such a truck has been on hand at the museum for many years, having come from an old Ontario Northland boxcar.

In 1955-56, CN records indicate the car served on the Campbellton Division, out of New Carlisle, Quebec. Photos indicate that the 55400 served out of St John, NB in the 1970s and 1980s. Its other assignments on CN are unknown.

However, in 1996 the car began a second career that would give it great significance to Eastern Ontario.

In 1996, it was sold to the Ontario L'Orignal Railway (OLOR) as their #55400. The OLOR was a 26 mile short line running from Glen Robertson to Hawkesbury and L’Orignal, Ontario over a former CNR branch line.

When the Ottawa Central Railway absorbed OLOR in 2001, the car became OCR # 55400. Ottawa Central operated the former OLOR line, as well as former CN lines between Ottawa and Pembroke. It had trackage rights over VIA’s former CN Alexandria Subdivision between Ottawa and Coteau, Quebec. The OCR owned 123 miles of track, in addition to operating over the 86 mile Alexandria Sub.

Finally, OCR was purchased by CN in November 2008, bringing the car back into CN ownership after 12 years of service on two independent eastern Ontario railways. CN had no use for #55400, and granted RMEO’s donation request.

The car had to move by road. It is very tall and Ottawa’s Walkley Yard is surrounded by low wires, so our volunteers needed to remove the headlight bracket and horn from the cupola roof, and remove the car's trucks prior to the move. Two highway floats and one crane was be required (Note: The planned 110 ton crane broke down the day before the move, and had to be replaced by a massive 300 to crane, the only other large crane available in Ottawa that day!).

The total load was 16'8” tall and 11’0” wide. Moves like these don’t come cheap, and we are very grateful to our supporters!


BNTV/ BrockNews video can be seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/rmeo2010?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/9GhGjng8DGY

Longer video produced by Dale Elliott of BNTV/ BrockNews for RMEO can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/rmeo2010?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/bdk13ItkC7Y

http://www.youtube.com/user/rmeo2010?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/EEr75FHdaSs

Photos by Ian McCord can be viewed here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianmccord/

Our thanks to:

Canadian National
G.C. Hudson Supply, Brockville, Ontario
Campbell Trucking, Smiths Falls, Ontario
Regional Crane, Otttawa, Ontario
Dulepka crane, Ottawa, Ontario
Bell Alliant
Andress' Your Independent Grocer, Smiths Falls
Quattrocchi & Co., Smiths Falls
City of Ottawa
Town of Smiths Falls
And our many other generous individual and corporate donors and volunteers, who have made this project possible!

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

The Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario has two British- built Wickham motorcars, both Type 40 Mk. II models. They are Canadian Pacific # M-297 and Canadian National #23.

Both are powered by Ford V-8 gasoline engines.

A Yahoo discussion group exists, which is a fantastic source of detailed information on Wickham and its products:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/WickhamofWare/


Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
sfrmchin@superaje.com

Photos of Transportation Expo 2011 by Colin Cummings

A project to connect our existing Carshop building to live trackage.

With the completion of the massive fill project on 18 April, 2012, the way is cleared for construction of new track out to the mainline at the east end of the property.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Steel Caboose built by Hawker-Siddley

This ex- CNR van was donated by DuPont of Canada, Maitland Works. The car was painted blue by DuPont while it was being used as shelter for DuPont's switching crew.

Work to restore the car to its original CNR orange livery was begun in the fall of 2011.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
sfrmchin@superaje.com

CP 173884 celebrates her 100th anniversary in 2012!

CPR 36' single sheathed boxcar # 173884 (later assigned work service # 404177) was built in October 1912. It is an excellent example of the "Dominion", or "Fowler Patent" boxcar design which replaced all- wood cars, being surpassed in size by other steel framed wooden cars in the 1920s.

This car retains its original Youngstown pressed steel doors, Westinghouse type K air brakes, and vertical handbrake staff.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
sfrmchin@superaje.com

Original revenue service number 297XXX series (exact number unknown, apparently not stamped on frame), previous revenue service number 296570, work service numbers 404266, 40975.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Original revenue service number 297066, work service numbers 404279, 42180, 40948.

Built in 1921, the car retains its Andrews trucks, K air brakes, and vertical brake staff. It still has three cast iron wheelsets, one having been replaced with steel. At some point the car apparently served as a Road Repair Car, with the door cut into its A end, and in more recent years it served as a machine tool car with the Smiths Falls Auxilliary.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

18 March 2010. CPR caboose, built in 1921, 436757 previously lived in Victoria Park in Smiths Falls, where it served as a tourist info office. It was donated to the museum in 1992 when it was no longer wanted by the town.

The car, which was in rough shape when received, is receiving attention from our restoration crews and will be a showpiece before long.

It was moved into the museum's carshop early in November 2010 for major repairs to its exterior.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

These photos by Dennis MacTavish show RailFest 2010, held at RMEO 28-29 August 2010,

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

An upcoming project, which we hope to undertake starting late in 2011, is putting our runaround into service. A "runaround", or "passing siding", allows two trains to meet or an engine to run around its train and couple to the other end. It makes switching far simpler!

The Cadillac storage shed, or "Caddy Shack" will be relocated to the rear of the property, and the car will follow. The service pit will be filled and solid track built over it.

The runaround needs many new ties and a good quantity of ballast.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

These images show the museum's Canadian Northern Ontario Railway section house. The structure was to be demolished to allow expansion of the Rideau Lumber yard, but was instead donated and moved from a location across William Street to the museum's property. This album is intended to include shots from before acquisition through the move, initial renovation, and upcoming full restoration.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Our volunteers make the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario possible. Here are some of them in action.

Come on out to Smiths Falls and join in the effort!

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Canadian Pacific Railway Official Car #23, built June 1896 by the Crossen Car Company

Restoration Project

It is a rare opportunity to see the beautiful joinery of an 1890's wooden passenger, opened up for examination. Join our volunteers as they recreate the car builder's art on one of the very few surviving Crossen passenger cars.

Would you like to help with this car's restoration? We are looking for additional woodworkers, carmen, and fundraising volunteers to assist. If interested, please contact the museum!

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Museum Locomotives, Buildings and Misc.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

This area has been revamped during the winter 2008-2009 to make it better reflect typical practices and arrangements that made the Agent/ Operator's work more convenient.

Refer to http://public.fotki.com/elliottd/sfrmeo/station-displays-ju/imag1688.html for several photos showing these changes. There is still more planned, as time permits.

Here are some photos taken before we started updating this area.


Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Museum Rolling Stock Photos

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Construction of new siding east of station, by volunteers and Canadian Armed Forces Military Engineers.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Coach Moving
Circa 1988-89

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Canadian National's Smiths Falls Subdivision and Canadian Pacific's Kingston Subdivision crossed at Harrowsmith, Ontario. The crossing was achieved through switches, rather than a "diamond" crossing.

These signals protected the crossing of the two lines. In 1986, the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario (then called Smiths Falls Railway Museum) received permission from both railways to remove the signals. Both branchlines were abandoned by this time.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Early in the museum's development, we were working with CN's assistance to preserve a portion of the Smiths Falls Subdivision from Smiths Falls to just west of Chaffey's Locks for use as a tourist railway. Unfortunately, due to various factors, this was unable to proceed. CN's cooperation and encouragement was greatly appreciated.

With CN's permission, we regularly patrolled the track to control beaver dams and remove fallen trees and rocks. These photos were taken during those patrols.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

This album contains a series of photos, mostly taken in 1984, before we took possession of the Smiths Falls CNoR station. They show the incredibly run- down condition of the building prior to restoration.

Anybody familiar with the station's current excellent condition will find these old photos fascinating!

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

The museum first replaced the station's roof in 1985, and by 2008 the 25-year shingles are approaching the end of their natural service lives. To prevent trouble, the roof is being replaced.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Spring is when track construction starts again, and these materials will be put to good use at SFRM.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Museum Activities

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org

Coach Painting Project

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario,
90 William Street/ PO Box 962,
Smiths Falls, Ontario,
K7A 5A5
(613) 283-5696
http://www.rmeo.org
https://www.facebook.com/rmeo.smithsfalls
info@rmeo.org