Other Railway Attractions
In Eastern Ontario and beyond
Brockville Tunnel Brockville ON
https://www.brockvillerailwaytunnel.com/
Enjoy a unique walk through history inside Canada’s first railway tunnel. Located at the St. Lawrence waterfront and Brockville city hall.
Bytown Railway Society Ottawa ON
https://www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca/index.php/about-us
Volunteer to work on some of Canada’s historical locomotives and other railway treasures.
Canadian Co-Operative Wool Growers Carleton Place ON
Visit the former CPR roundhouse in the heart of town and explore the artifact collection.
Exporail St. Constant (Montreal) QC
Canada’s railway museum houses a world class collection of locomotives, passenger cars, and more.
Ingenium (Science and Tech) Ottawa ON
https://ingeniumcanada.org/cstm/visit
The locomotive hall features locomotives CNR 6400 and CPR 3100, two of Canada’s largest engines.
Keith M. Boyd Museum Russell ON
A small museum that features the history of the New York Central Railroad in Eastern Ontario.
Ottawa Valley Live Steamers Cumberland ON
See and ride working scale locomotives and trains in action. Close to Cumberland Village Museum.
South Simcoe Railway Tottenham ON
Ride behind Canada’s oldest operating steam locomotive in historic passenger cars. Tottenham is an easy drive from Canada’s Wonderland.
Spirit of Sir John A #1095 Kingston ON
Enjoy the static display of a carefully preserved locomotive at the edge of Kingston’s waterfront.
York-Durham Heritage Railway Stouffville-Uxbridge ON
Ride stainless steel coaches pulled by a diesel through the hills east of Toronto. Home of Thomas the Tank Engine.
Scherzer Lift Bridge
One of the most interesting Smiths Falls landmarks is located just south of the Railway Museum. It is the Scherzer Lift Bridge, at Mileage 35.4, right in the heart of the Rideau River and Rideau Canal area, the last one existing designed for crossing a small canal in Canada.
The bridges were built by the Canada Foundry Company of Toronto Ontario, and NOT the Dominion Bridge Company whose name is casted into the historical plaque. If fact, all bridges along the CNoOR line were contracted to Canada Foundry. Sir William MacKenzie and Sir Donald Mann, the financiers and builders of the Canadian Northern, had considerable interest in the Canada Foundry Co. and not surprising they were awarded the contract.
In the winter months, concrete piers were poured, and in the month of March, around 25 men were employed to erect the Bascule bridge. Mr. T. Riley from the Canada Foundry Co. took charge of the work and Mr. James Carr, Bridge Inspector for the C.N.R. was getting the work started.
The bridge was originally operated by electricity! Just by a push of a button, in 1912!
The bridge weighs 270 tons and rocks back and forth like a child’s rocking horse. Perfectly balanced, one person could move the bridge. It took 20 minutes to lift by hand. There was a 15 hp electric motor installed in 1912 that lifted the bridge in one minute. But, when Smiths Falls went to AC electric a year later, the motor was disused and went back to hand-cranking for 67 years!
There was supposed to be a “sister” Bascule Bridge on the CNoOR line at Shannonville but it was removed a few years after construction.
Lionel Dorsch of Smiths Falls was the last Bridge Tender in 1978. He wrote his bridge examinations for a Mr. Pye in Montreal.