North America Railway Hall of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | 1996 |
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| Location | 750 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | Transport museum |
The North America Railway Hall of Fame (NARHF) is a special non-profit group. It is located in the beautiful, restored Canada Southern Railway Station in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. This organization was created to remember and celebrate the amazing history of railways. It honors people, events, buildings, art, trains, and new ideas that shaped railway history.
NARHF started in 1996. Its main goal is to teach everyone about how railway transportation changed North America. This includes its impact on the entire continent, on Canada specifically, and on local places like St. Thomas, Ontario.
Contents
What the Hall of Fame Does
The North America Railway Hall of Fame has several important goals:
- To honor the men and women who made big contributions to the railway industry in North America.
- To also celebrate important railway groups, new inventions, railway trains, buildings, and historical railway events.
- To create a place where railway history items and books about Hall of Fame members can be kept and shown.
- To teach people how railway travel has influenced the history and growth of communities, countries, and international connections across North America.
After NARHF got its permanent home, the Canada Southern Station, in 2005, they added more goals:
- To protect and fix up the very old and important Canada Southern Railway Station in St. Thomas, Ontario.
- To create a fun place for tourists that helps the local economy and serves the community's needs.
A Look at Railway History
The North American Railway Hall of Fame officially became a group in 1996. The first ceremonies to welcome new members happened in 1999 and 2001. These early events took place at the St. Thomas Public Library.
In 2005, the Hall of Fame bought its current home. This is the historic Canada Southern Railway Station at 750 Talbot Street in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. Since then, new members have been added every two years. Ceremonies have been held in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and continued every two years after that.
After buying the Canada Southern Station, the Hall of Fame and the old railway station became closely linked. Money needed to be raised for two main reasons. First, to house and display the items and exhibits for the Hall of Fame members. Second, to help restore and keep up the historic building itself.
The Canada Southern Railway Station
In 2004, the North America Railway Hall of Fame bought its permanent home. This was the Canada Southern Railway Station, also known as the CASO Station. They bought it from another railway group called ONTRACK. In 2005, NARHF officially took over ownership of the building.
The CASO Station was once almost falling apart, but it is now nearly fully restored. The station was finished in 1873. However, the restoration work focused on how it looked around 1914 to the early 1920s. This station was a very important stop for New York Central Railroad passenger trains. It was located halfway on their route between Buffalo and Detroit in Ontario.
Visitors can explore the station on their own or with a guide, if staff are available. You can learn about the station's history and its special design. There are also many old objects from that time on display. The second floor of the station holds the exhibits for the North America Railway Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame earns money by renting out offices on the second floor. They also rent out Anderson Hall, which is the main dining hall, and the Ladies Waiting Room. These spaces are used for meetings, weddings, and other events. The Canada Southern Railway Station is not just home to the Hall of Fame. It was also honored by being inducted into the Hall of Fame itself in 2001. It was recognized in the "Facilities & Structures" category as a "Local" achievement. The CASO Station is also recognized as an Ontario Heritage Trust Building.
How People and Things Get Inducted
Hall of Fame Categories
The process of becoming a Hall of Fame member starts with a nomination. Anyone can nominate someone or something to the Hall of Fame. You can contact them at the Canada Southern Railway Station or use the online form on their website. The categories for nominations include:
- Communities, businesses, governments, and organizations
- Buildings and structures
- Railway art forms and events
- Railway workers and builders
- Trains and other railway vehicles
- New railway inventions and technologies
Nominees are judged on whether their contribution was important at a local, national, or North American level. Of course, all nominees must have made a significant and fitting contribution to the world of trains and rail transport.
Selection Process
The nomination process is open to everyone. The public can submit nominations to NARHF at the Canada Southern Railway Station or through their website.
Once all nominations are received, a group of experts makes the final choices. As mentioned, the first induction ceremonies were in 1999 and 2001 at the St. Thomas Public Library. Since the Hall of Fame moved to the Canada Southern Station, induction ceremonies have happened every two years.
Honored Inductees
People, events, art, equipment, or buildings can all be inducted into the North America Hall of Fame. It could be the first of something, like the first engine built in Canada. It could also be a very important work of art that relates to railways. Some famous inductees include the Toronto No. 2, which was the first engine built in Canada. Also honored are American railway leader Cornelius Vanderbilt, Grand Central Terminal, and Toronto's Union Station. Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is also in the Hall of Fame, along with the Brotherhood of Porters and Redcaps, and Sir John A. Macdonald.
All inductees are shown online on the NARHF website. You can also see displays about them at the actual Canada Southern Railway Station in St. Thomas, Ontario. Tourists can visit both the Hall of Fame and the restored railway station. NARHF also has an interactive digital display to help you learn more about those who have been inducted.
A full list of all inductees is available at the List of North America Railway Hall of Fame inductees.
