August 17, 2023:

 

            I got up and got dressed. We went to a nearby Cora’s restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast we headed to the baseball diamond where my sister’s team was playing.

 

            After dropping my parents off, I drove off to Exporail. I remembered how last year I had made a wrong turn and went way off course. This time, I made the correct turn and drove over the St. Lawrence Seaway on the correct highway.

 

            I still made one wrong turn as I turned a street too early. However, this was a wrong turn in the right general direction and was able to get back on course without backtracking. I soon made it to Exporail. I paid my admission and went inside.

 

            I noticed like last year, former Montreal streetcar #1959 was running. I filmed it passing by and took some photos of equipment out front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I went into the display barn and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed A4 #4489 which is named “Dominion of Canada”.

 

 

            I then walked through #4489’s tender and through the cab. I then photographed another European steam locomotive.

 

 

            I then photographed a former London and Port Stanley flanger.

 

 

 

            This flanger isn’t the only piece of London and Port Stanley equipment at Exporail. They also have L&PS interurban #10 which is a sister to car #8 at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum and #4 which I photographed on my Orillia trip back in 2008 four years before it would join #8 at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum.

 

            However #10 is not accessible to the public. Presumably it’s in the same barn as Toronto Witt #2300. From what I heard, it was stored outside for years and may be in rough shape.

 

            L&PS interurban #14 was also part of the Exporail collection for decades until it came to the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario in the late 90s or early 2000s. #10 is probably in the same condition as #14 when it first went to St. Thomas. However in #14’s case, museum members are cosmetically restoring the car.

 

            I then took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed Montreal PCC #3517 which is the only survivor of 18 PCCs Montreal bought in 1944. #3517 is the only surviving example of a PCC bought by a Canadian city other than Toronto.

 

            Only three Canadian cities purchased PCCs brand new: Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. However Toronto’s first order of new PCCs (out of an eventual 8 orders of new PCCs) was more than all of Montreal and Vancouver’s PCC fleets combined. As far as I know none of Vancouver’s PCCs were preserved.

 

 

 

            I took a few more photos in the barn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I went outside and photographed a little diesel locomotive.

 

 

            I photographed the equipment that ran in Newfoundland as well as former Montreal streetcar #1959 passing.

 

 

 

            I then attempted to photograph equipment in the barn not open to visitors.

 

 

 

            I made my way through the display barn and then photographed former VIA LRC locomotive #6921 parked out front.

 

 

            I stuck my camera in between slots in the door and attempted to photograph what was inside. I noticed that part of the tarp covering TTC Witt #2300 has been partially pulled back.

 

 

 

 

 

            Exporail seemingly neglects most of their streetcar collection. When #2300 was moved there in 2008, they seemed content with just sticking the car inside not even bothering to remove the tarp.

 

            The Halton County Radial Railway museum has expressed interest in acquiring #2300 but Exporail doesn’t want to part with it for whatever reason. They have thought about possibly trading for it. While they do have Montreal and Southern Counties interurban #107 which would fit better with Exporail’s trolleys, HCRR might not want to part with it because #107 was the third car they ever acquired. As a result, #2300 will probably continue to sit for years.

 

            I walked over to the miniature railroad. On the way, I walked behind Exporail’s main exhibit building and photographed equipment back there. A couple coaches including the ex GO Transit single level coach were wrapped in plastic similar to #2300 when it left Toronto for Exporail. I took some photos

 

 

Here’s the ex AMT/GO Transit single level coach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            No one seemed to be at the miniature railway. I figured to check back later. I then walked to Exporail’s main exhibit building. I photographed some railroad memorabilia in the lobby.

 

 

 

            When I went to Exporail last year, I saw a train consisting of VIA FP9 #6309, an old wooden passenger car, and Sibley Park with Sibley Park over where visitors could go underneath the equipment. Since then, the train had been turned 180 degrees with #6309 now being parked where people could go under the locomotive. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I saw the back door on Sibley Park was wide open. Its interior is still under restoration. Next to being able to go inside the car, this is the next best thing. I took a couple interior shots of the car’s Bullet Lounge and the stairs leading to the dome.

 

 

 

            I took some more photos.

 

 

 

            I then photographed CN boxcab electric #6711. The Halton County Radial Railway hopes to acquire its sister #6714 in the near future.

 

 

            I then photographed former STM MR-63 #81-502.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what the Montreal Metro would have looked when it first opened in 1966.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed streetcar #1046 which ran in the suburbs of Montreal. I also saw that people could now go inside. I took some shots both inside and outside the car.

 

 

 

 

 

            I took a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then photographed CP Royal Hudson #2850 and VIA #6309; both at ground level and underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I photographed some HO scale model railway equipment on display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I went by the lunchroom. I saw there was a counter that was used to serve food, but no one was serving.

 

            I went outside and photographed some ex CP equipment outside.

 

 

 

            There was a demonstration on the museum’s turntable. They allowed visitors to help turn it. I went on the second group to turn the turntable. I took a photo.

 

 

            I then photographed more equipment outside.

 

 

 

 

            I then decided to head towards the main exhibit building.

 

I took a lot of photos at Exporail so click here to see the rest of my day here:      Exporail part 2