New Brunswick Railway Museum

All aboard! Travel back in time at the New Brunswick Railway Museum, the province’s leading destination for railway history. Located in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, the museum invites visitors of all ages to explore the fascinating story of the railways that helped build communities and connect the province.

Operated by the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (New Brunswick Division), this volunteer-run museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing New Brunswick’s rich railway heritage through an impressive collection of historic locomotives, railcars, artifacts, and interactive exhibits.

Explore New Brunswick’s Railway Heritage

A visit to the museum is a chance to experience railway history up close.

Wander through five museum buildings and explore:

• Six full-size historic railway cars
• Three locomotives
• More than 16 additional pieces of rolling stock displayed across the museum’s five-acre property
• A museum barn filled with smaller railway artifacts, including motor cars, velocipedes, and many fascinating railway tools and equipment

Whether you’re a lifelong railway enthusiast or discovering rail history for the first time, there’s something new around every corner.

A Hands-On Experience for the Whole Family

The New Brunswick Railway Museum is more than a collection of artifacts—it’s an interactive experience.

Take a seat inside a historic passenger railcar, climb aboard a locomotive, and imagine life on the rails. Stand where the fireman, once known as the “Tallow Pot,” shoveled coal into the steam engine, or sit in the engineer’s seat—nicknamed the “Hogger” or “Ballast Burner”—to see the railway from their perspective.

Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring the museum’s hands-on displays, with many artifacts that can be touched, climbed aboard, or experienced firsthand. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about the people, technology, and hard work that kept Canada’s railways moving.

Growing for the Future

The museum continues to expand its exhibits and collections. Current projects include restoring a CN baggage car, which will provide additional exhibition space. Future additions will feature:

• A model railway for young visitors
• Exhibits exploring the history of Albertite, gypsum, and petroleum in southeastern New Brunswick
• Expanded displays celebrating the province’s railway heritage

Plan Your Visit

The museum is open throughout the summer season, with volunteers on hand to welcome visitors.

During the spring and fall shoulder seasons (mid-May until the summer opening, and from Labour Day until mid-October), volunteers may not always be on site. Visitors are welcome to stop by, but arranging your visit in advance is recommended.

New Brunswick Railway Museum location:
Hillsborough, New Brunswick