Amelie CameronWhen I was a kid, I had a train phase. It was pretty short, at least compared to my dinosaur phase, but it was long enough to do some damage. I had accumulated so many train toys, and I had visited the Toronto Railway Museum way too many times.
Now, as an adult, I decided to go back to this museum after years of not having been there, and it was like no time had passed. I was running inside the train replica, operating the handcar with my brother, and trying the train simulator like I was a pro!
If you love trains as much as I do, you need to visit the Toronto Railway Museum, located near HarbourFront Centre. Here’s an in-depth guide to help you.
Things to Know
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd, Roundhouse Park
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14162149229
Admission Fee:
- Adult—C$14
- Senior Citizen (65 years old and above)—C$10
- Student (17 years old and above, with valid ID)—C$8
- Youth (4 years old to 16 years old)—C$5
- Child under 4 years old—Free
How to Get Here
By Subway: Take Line 1 to Union Station. Then, exit onto Front Street West and make your way to Bremner Boulevard, where the museum is located.
By Streetcar: Ride 509/510 HarbourFront/Spadina streetcar and alight at the HarbourFront Centre Stop. From there, walk toward the museum, which should only take a few minutes.
By Car: You can park your car at the South Parking Lot, which is located underneath Roundhouse Park. The rates range between C$6 and C$37, depending on how many hours your car is parked.
What to Do
Explore the interior of an old-fashioned train
– From: torailwaymuseum
One thing that I love about the Toronto Railway Museum is that it sticks to its theme. The whole place looks like a train station back in the day!
There’s a “ticketing” station with brochure stands and bulletin boards, and they’ve even replicated the loud sounds of old steam locomotives.
But the best part of this museum is the old-fashioned train right on the tracks. The inside of this train is decked in vintage furniture, so you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time.
I like to pretend I’m a character in an Agatha Christie novel, solving a murder that happened on a train!
Go on the Mini Train Ride
– From: torailwaymuseum
Ticket: C$8.85 + HST
Okay, the Mini Train Ride is technically made for children, but they never said adults can’t join, so go on and check this one out!
This small train takes you about half a kilometre around Roundhouse Park, and it’s a great way to see the park’s sights. The historic Don Station and the museum’s rolling stock are the highlights, but you can also see the iconic CN Tower in the background.
The bummer is that it’s open, so you’ll be under the sun for a long time. This is also a popular activity, so tickets sell out fast. I recommend going to the museum and booking your spot ahead of time.
Ride a handcar
– From: torailwaymuseum
As a kid, railway turntables and handcars used to fascinate me because I kept seeing them in movies and shows set in the old times. So, when I saw them for the very first time at this museum, it felt like seeing a celebrity; I couldn’t believe they were real!
The turntable here is about 120 feet, and being inside the train as it rotates is such a fun experience! It’s just as fun to manually operate a handcar with a partner along the turntable; it made me feel like a miner about to get to work.
The turntable rides are free, but I recommend donating at least C$5 anyway. This donation will be used to help maintain the locomotive, handcar, and other heritage assets.
Operate a train through a simulator
– From: torailwaymuseum
I love everything about this museum, but I have to say that the train simulator is my favourite part.
The simulator room is made to look like an operating room in the 1950s, so the machines definitely appear ancient. Once you learn the basics, you can then try making your way through Toronto at the time.
When I come and play here, I usually just roam mindlessly, passing by famous landmarks like Union Station and the John Street Roundhouse. So far, I haven’t “crashed” the train yet, so maybe I could’ve been a damn good train operator in the 50s.
Join a guided tour
– From: torailwaymuseum
These days, I prefer exploring the Toronto Railway Museum by myself, but that’s only because I’ve visited this place numerous times now. If this is your first time, I recommend joining a guided tour because you’ll get a lot more insight that way.
The guided tour comes with a docent who’s knowledgeable about Toronto’s railway history, so you’ll learn a lot about how trains helped shape the city’s economy back in the day. You might also learn a few train trivia that you can share with your friends!
Guided tours are free, and they last for about 30 minutes. There’s always a tour active every hour, so you can join anytime you want!
Where to Dine
The Rec Room Roundhouse
– From: therecroomca
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—11:30 am to 12 am
- Wednesday—11:30 am to 4 pm
- Thursday—11:30 am to 1 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 2 am
- Sunday—11 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14168150086
The Rec Room is one of the coolest bars I’ve ever visited because it’s also an arcade playground! Because of this, both children and adults love coming here!
I usually treat myself to any of the pizzas, and my current favourite is The Butcher’s Daughter. This pizza is jam-packed with ground fennel sausages, pepperoni, red onions, and Parmigiano Reggiano. It’s herby, oily, and spicy, and I can’t get enough of it!
Steam Whistle Kitchen
– From: steamwhistlebrewing
Operating Hours:
- Monday—11:30 am to 8 pm
- Tuesday to Friday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14163622337
How fitting that a train-themed museum has a train-themed restaurant! Even better is the fact that Steam Whistle Kitchen is cozy enough to become a brunch spot (at least for me).
I love the Smash Burger here, which boasts a combination of sweet, barbecue, and cheesy flavours.
I also can’t resist the classic fish and chips; the fish has that amazing crispy exterior, while the inside is delicate and flaky. The tartar sauce also adds a tangy zing that makes everything better.
Where to Shop: Museum Shop
– From: torailwaymuseum
I love to purchase something from a museum’s shop as a form of remembrance, and if you do the same, then you better head over to the Toronto Railway Museum Store, which is located inside the Don Station building.
Notebooks are my go-to souvenirs because they look pretty and are useful for me. I also love to get stickers (because I’m a sticker hoarder) and art prints made by local artists.
If I come with my little nieces and nephews, I might end up splurging on some of the train-shaped plushies because they’re so cute and squishy!
