Middleton Railway Museum officially opens after restoration project

Article content

John MacDonald is transported back in time as he sits down in a chair in the operations room at the Middleton Railway Museum.

It brings him back to when he was a trainyard co-ordinator in the interior of British Columbia.

“The moment I sat down, I am ready for trains to start calling,” he said. “It’s a level of awareness. … All senses need to be alert.”

A career railroader with 35 years of experience in a variety of roles, MacDonald is proud the Middleton Railway Museum Society, which he is part of, has been able to restore the room. It gives others a sense of what happened inside the four walls, which he described as the “centre of the railway universe” during the museum’s grand opening June 7.

Article content

“With all the noise we had here today, that is typical of a working station,” said MacDonald, who grew up in Kingsport and now calls Port George home.

“You just learn to block it (out),” he said, “because I have a job to do.”

It was an intense job that required multi-tasking. His first-hand knowledge of the various roles provided him with insight into what questions were coming his way before they were asked.

“I loved it,” he said, describing the role for visitors and noting how rewarding having the room restored is.

“(It’s) an opportunity for the rest of the world just to get a little tidbit of a taste.”

Article content

Restoration

The former Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) station was in a state of disrepair nearly a decade ago when Dianne Hankinson LeGard had a vision of what it could be. She put together a team and convinced political partners to see the value of the restoration project.

“There’s been a lot of support from a lot of people along the way,” said society chairman David Hankinson.

The project saw the station restored to the way it would have looked in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The official opening was four years in the making and delayed after a 2023 fire in the waiting room caused smoke and fire damage.

Despite the setback, Hankinson said society members remained steadfast and continued to say, “there’s a way to do this.”

The museum’s layout room with its large model railway was opened in past years, but not the waiting and operations rooms. It attracted more than 2,000 visitors during its 60-day season in 2024. Hankinson said society officials are hoping to double that this year with the museum fully open and a lot of Canadians doing staycations.

Article content

Hankinson said there’s two groups he normally sees around the museum.

“There’s the senior group that remembers the train and trips they took on the train,” he said. “And there’s the newer group that have never seen a train.”

He said there’s a transfer of knowledge and a sharing of stories from generation to generation.

“What we’re trying to do is preserve that for the future generations. So, when somebody says the train, they won’t say, ‘What’s that?’”

Ribbon cutting

Edie Greene cut the ribbon to officially open the museum.

The station has a special meaning to the family. Her late husband, Fred Greene, left Middleton by train heading to Halifax to work for his uncle on March 16, 1960, the day of a nor’easter.

Fred ended up buying the company from his uncle and went on to make a very successful business called Fisherman’s Market International Incorporated. He retired 60 years later at 81.

Article content

“He wanted to do something here in the Valley, something that would make a difference, something he would be proud to be a part of,” daughter Viki Gaul said.

Knowing his wishes, the Fred and Edith Greene Foundation donated the funds to restore the museum’s waiting room. After the fire, the foundation made another contribution to see the project through.

“They repeated their donation,” Hankinson said.

The society dedicated the waiting room to Fred Greene during the opening ceremonies.

Celebration

More than 100 people attended the official opening.

“Today, we stand in this beautifully restored DAR railway station, a heritage gem from back in 1917 brought back to life as a fully accessible centre of learning and pride,” Annapolis MLA David Bowlby said.

He thanked the society members and volunteers for seeing the project through.

Article content

“Your tireless efforts have transformed this vision into a reality,” Bowlby said. “Since taking over the station in 2021, your passion has brought history back to life.”

He noted the society has raised nearly $800,000 to fuel the vision since 2019.

Dustin Enslow, deputy warden of the County of Annapolis, noted an estimated 8,000 volunteer hours are contributed annually to the museum.

“This museum is more than just a collection of artifacts; it’s a living tribute to the heritage of our region and a shining example of community spirit, hard work and collaboration.”

Attraction

Middleton Mayor Gail Smith remembers coming to meet aunts and uncles who visited by train for a summer vacation and going by train to visit her grandmother in Digby.

“The members of the society have done an exceptional job,” she said after touring the facility. “It looks really great.”

Article content

She said it is a drawing card for the town and brings tourists to the community.

“Everybody loves trains,” she said. “I think it’s going to make a big difference.”

Looking forward, back

And while June 7 was the celebration of the vision becoming reality, Hankinson said the society is already planning future projects to enhance the facility.

Sitting at the desk in the operations room with a typewriter in front of him, MacDonald points at a stack of papers. It all made sense to him, but it was not as obvious to the untrained eye.

“Unless you are a railroader, I can’t image you understanding … what it takes to get Aunt Betty from here to Halifax and back,” he said. “It involves so many people and so much knowledge and technology of the day. There’s a lot to it, to make sure Aunt Betty gets there and back safely.”

Bowlby congratulated the society members for their tireless efforts.

Article content

“Thank you for preserving our past and inspiring our future,” he said.

“Here’s to the railway museum, a place where history meets community and where our story continues to roll forward,” he added before blowing a whistle.

“All aboard.”

Need to know

Middleton Railway Museum

What – A museum that displays Canada’s largest collection of Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) memorabilia and much more. It includes a 1905 steam locomotive, tender car and boxcar from Upper Clements Park, two small railway engines and a steam locomotive tender from the Museum of Industry and a caboose from a Bible Hill family. Inside, there is a large model railway depicting the Annapolis Valley that is a constant draw.

Where – 61 School St., Middleton.

When – The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday from June 1 to end of September.

Deep roots – Middleton’s railway history dates back to the 1870s.

Article content

Did you know? The last DAR trains went east and west between Yarmouth and Halifax and through the Annapolis Valley on Jan. 14, 1990.

Timeline

A look at some of the key dates of the Middleton Railway Museum.

2017

July 7 – Middleton Railway Museum Society registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.

Nov. 23 – Society purchases the station and property from the province for $1.

2020

Aug. 18 – County of Annapolis agrees to give the society the CNR steam locomotive and four boxcars from Upper Clements Park.

November – The locomotive is transported and installed in Middleton.

2021

September – The boxcars were removed from Upper Clements Park. One went to Middleton, two to Berwick and the other to Wolfville.

2022

July 13 – The Greene Foundation provides funding needed to restore the station waiting room.

Dec. 29 – Two small railway engines and a steam locomotive tender arrive from the Museum of Industry in Stellarton.

2023

April 29 – A fire in the waiting room was discovered. The restoration program was put on hold.

2024

Jan. 9 – A 32-foot Fruehauf dry van transport trailer was received from Fleetworx Inc. of New Minas.

June 30 – The freight shed opened to the public.

Sept. 12 – CNR van 78769 was donated to the museum by Bible Hill’s Andrew and Leslie Blackburn.

2025

June 7 – The museum is officially opened.

Article content