A flag station was used where there was not enough passenger or freight business for the railway to have an agent on duty. If a passenger wanted the train to stop, they would take a flag or lantern from inside the station and signal the oncoming train to stop. The engine crew kept a watchful eye ahead of flag stations. In anticipation, the train would already be travelling at a reduced speed and would easily be able to stop. The station served as a shelter in inclement weather.
Nolan’s Corners is located 12 kilometres east of the Smiths Falls station. It was the first stop north of Smiths Falls on the CNoR route to Ottawa. Nolans flag station was built in the 1920s for use at Dwyer Hill and moved from Dwyer Hill to replace the original Nolans station that had burned.
In later years only two trains passed through Nolans each day, except Sunday. Train 445 passed at 9:45 p.m. while Train 446 going east passed at 2:15 a.m.
In 1994, Nolans flag station was moved to the museum and restored by Algonquin College Heritage Carpentry students. Nolans today sits at the south end of the main station platform and forms an integral part of the RMEO telegraph system.
