New Brunswick Railway Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salem and Hillsborough Railroad |
|
|---|---|
| Locale | New Brunswick, Canada |
| Terminus | Salisbury Hillsborough |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Canadian National Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Reporting mark | SHRR |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | (?) |
| Closed | 1970s |
| Preservation history | |
| 1982 | Opened |
| Headquarters | Hillsborough |
| Website | |
| New Brunswick Railway Museum | |
The New Brunswick Railway Museum is a cool place in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, Canada. It's run by the Canadian Railroad Historical Association. This museum shows off the last steam engine from a railway line that used to be there.
Before it became a museum, this railway was called the Salem and Hillsborough Railroad (S&H). The old train tracks were later replaced by Highway 114.
Contents
How the Railway Started
The Salem and Hillsborough Railroad began in 1982. It was started by a group of people who loved trains. These included volunteers and retired railway workers.
They took over a part of an old train line. This line used to belong to the Canadian National company. It stretched about 20 miles (32 km) from Salisbury to just past Hillsborough.
Why the Line Was There
The Canadian National Railway used this line to serve a gypsum quarry. A quarry is a place where rocks or minerals are dug out of the ground. When the quarry closed in the late 1970s, the railway company no longer needed the line.
The first test trains ran in 1983. The Salem and Hillsborough Railroad then opened to the public in 1984.
Trains That Ran on the Line
The Salem and Hillsborough Railroad used old steam locomotives. These were big, powerful trains that ran on steam. They had been used by the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific companies.
Two of these steam engines were Numbers 29 and 1009. They had been used in New Brunswick until the early 1960s. That's when both railway companies started using only diesel engines.
Another steam engine, Sydney and Louisburg 42, was used for a short time in the early to mid-1980s. But it needed repairs to its boiler, so it was taken out of service. Engine No. 42 was later sent back to its owner, the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry.
Tourist Trains
From 1984 to 2004, the Salem and Hillsborough Railroad ran special tourist trains. These trains carried passengers in coaches and even offered dinner rides. They traveled between Hillsborough and a place called Salem. Salem was about halfway between Hillsborough and Salisbury.
A Fire at the Railway
On September 16, 1994, a fire broke out at the railway. The fire destroyed the engine-house, which is like a garage for trains. Several engines and carriages inside were also damaged. The fire also ruined offices and important historical records.
Becoming a Museum
After 2004, the railway stopped running regular trains. Since 2005, the site has been a static museum. This means the trains stay in one place for people to visit and learn about. It is now known as the New Brunswick Railway Museum. The old excursion train is a main part of the museum's exhibits.
See also
- List of heritage railways in Canada
- List of museums in Canada
