Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario — Attraction in Smiths Falls

More a review of the north pole express than the museum though I suppose to some extent valid for both.

Certainly very pretty from the outside currently and with some lovely Xmas decorations generally including an impressive Christmas tree so that's definitely an upside. Caboose journey is fine - obviously short but I suppose the track that's available is what's available and there's not much you can do about that. I think it's a shame they don't make any effort with the cars themselves to appear Christmassy a missed opportunity I think.

$15 per person is a very ambitious price tag though not unexpected admittedly - but I think overall some more thought and organization could probably go into it to make it better without much more effort or expense from them. Tbf there's a Santa Claus and some other stuff in another carriage that because my son is too young to really care about yet we couldn't take advantage of so for parents of slightly older children might be a better experience I think.

Beyond that there's not that much to see really so having one of the other cars which seems to have been preserved for the public to look in being locked seems odd- why!? Perhaps there's a good reason but Who knows there was no sign or anything just a stairway up to a lighted up but locked door. Events like this are an opportunity to get people in who probably wouldn't normal have an interest in railway history so small things like that can matter more than they perhaps realise I think. Hot chocolate was $3 I've got no problem with the price in general that's cheap but when you're already paying $15 dollars making a cup donation only I think would give a better impression.

Overall it was fine - a pleasant enough way to spend an hour and I expect they rely on days like that to survive so you can sort of understand their capitalistic opportunism and I don't really begrudge them that. However, I think a little bit more effort could be made on their part even If it was just a couple of small things.

Our family all said they probably wouldn't return for the event again but I like trains as does my son as much as he can understand them anyway so I'd give it a go on a normal day when it was quieter and the normal price which I think is about half the event price. There's perhaps more to look at than I realized because...

1. I love trains and have since I was three (32 years ago). 2) I love camping and/or feeling like I'm camping. 3) I love unique experiences. 4) I love nice people. I was fortunate enough to have all four of these things when I visited the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario this past May 24th long weekend. The staff were warm, welcoming, and very friendly. On the surface, yep! it's a train museum. Dig a little deeper, you find the history of Canadian railways and the active years of serving both Smith's Falls and the country. Dig even deeper as you go on a tour with Krissy (one of the warm, welcoming, friendly and very knowledgeable staff at the RMEO) and you'll find that it's not just a train museum, but rather a key link to some very significant Canadian and world events that now hold a deeper meaning for me than when I first entered the doors of the station. My only complaint: I had to leave. But this gives me every reason to book another weekend (or more!) with my partner, our friends, and anyone I can recommend it to. My Inner Child was never so happy as it was this past weekend. It ended up being even more significant as this was the weekend of the Derecho storm that swept through Ottawa. We just got our power back today, but we're very grateful to have had an inviting experience where electricity, the coolest of shelters (a caboose!) and awesome people were there with open arms. And! Make sure you eat at Gerbo's Family Restaurant, Perfect Thyming, and The Pickled Pig, all within walking distance from the museum. Delicious food and friendly staff at all three!

Thank you to Andrew, Krissy, Lizzy, John and the rest of the staff for making our stay (and my Christmas present from my partner) the best that it could possibly have been at this gem of a site in quaint, charming Smith's Falls. We will definitely be...

I've been to the Railway Museum Before on my Previous Visits to My Grandparents Before, Also remembered my First visit the first Time I came to visit the Railway Museum, used to Call "Shining Time Station" in Summer 2000 when I was 7 years old. Because of Thomas the Tank Engine & His Friends. It was way back the Time I was younger. Before I was Old Enough to Take ETS EdmontonTransitSystem in Edmonton Alberta, Also taking the VIA RAIL on my Own at Union Station, Also Flying On My own & Taking PublicTransit Buses & PublicTransit in Toronto On my own, Also the GO Train On GO Transit as well.

Also went in September 2003 when I was 10 years old, at the End of the Summer before I was on my First year Living in Edmonton Alberta in Fall 2003.

Also have been to Railway Museum in Summer of 2008 when I was 15 years old in my MidTeens, That's when I finally became a YoungAdult Before I was in HighSchool in LYCairns.

Especially I got to go there to the Railway Museum with my Grandparents on Monday August 20th of 2012 which was 3 years ago the last year before, Which was also before the Start of My LastYear in Senior HighSchool in Miss Meheden's Program which was also My FinalTime at LYCairns. This was also during my Last Day of My 3 Weeks visit with my Grandparents.

This Place, the Railway Museum Brings me Back Lots of Memories of my Previous Times I've visited, really love the Diesel Train Locomotive & The SteamEngine Locomotive. It Brings Me Back Wonderful Memories, also...