Rotary Club of Southampton members, from left, Tony Sheard, Ed Braun, Sylvia Sheard, and Trish Saunders with Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre Business Services Manager Janice Mewhinney.

The Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre (BCM&CC) is excited to announce the opening of a new addition to the permanent galleries with the “Riding the Rails” exhibit.

In a BCM&CC media release, this hands-on model train exhibit tells the 100-year history of commercial and personal activities surrounding the railway in Bruce County, when the railway displaced marine travel as the prime means of transport, until our modern road system and fast efficient vehicles displaced rail transport.

Both children and adults alike will enjoy taking a step back in time when they experience the views along the railway circa 1920s to the 1950s, as the train rolls through realistic dioramas of Mildmay, Walkerton, Paisley, Port Elgin, and Southampton and whistle stops represented along the way in rural Bruce County.

It was through the vision, interest and passion of many model train enthusiasts and local history buffs that this exhibit has been created. As word of their work spread, more helpers came onboard, some with unique and critical talents. In total, there have been more than 30 Bruce County Museum Railway "members” working with the team at the Museum. They contributed their talent and skills in research, electronics, wiring, woodworking, structural engineering, drafting, model building, photography, graphics, creative writing, and fabrication. It has taken more than 8,000 hours to create “Riding the Rails”.

“This exhibition is a welcomed addition to our permanent gallery and the content further enhances our storytelling of the County," said Cathy McGirr, Director, Museum and Cultural Services.

Museum members and guests are invited to a sneak peek opening event on Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 7 p.m., to celebrate this latest edition to the permanent galleries with refreshments, programming and entertainment. “Riding the Rails” is proudly presented by 98 The Beach and The Rotary Club of Southampton. The exhibit opens to the public on July 12th.

Realistic dioramas are featured in the landscape of “Riding the Rails.”