Wonder at our massive locomotives as you journey back in time to an era when steam-powered trains and ships were the only way to go. Learn how steam power helped shape this country.

Climb into the cabs of two vintage locomotives and imagine yourself as a conductor. Watch a steam engine in action, and learn just how much power it took to pull train of fully loaded boxcars. See how tall you really are next to the gigantic wheel of a train engine.

Step back into an era where steam reigned supreme in Canada—and learn why it was ultimately replaced as the primary way of powering locomotives and ships after 1960.

Exhibition highlights

  • See the CN 6400, the locomotive that pulled the Royal Tour train in 1939, along with a wooden wind-tunnel model that helped inform its design.

  • Explore the world of the people who kept the trains running, see the tools they used, and learn more about the lives of immigrants who came to Canada by sea.

  • Don’t miss scale models of steam-power watercraft, including a coastal boat, a cargo ship, and ocean liners.