The Bytown Railway Society is a volunteer, non-profit organization incorporated under federal government statute whose objective is to facilitate, aid and promote an interest in Canadian railway history and other related transportation and communications media; to own, preserve, acquire, maintain and restore artifacts or relics relating to the history of railways and other related transportation and communication media, and assist companion organizations in any of these.
Our Charitable Registration Number is: 118822261RR0001.
The Society was founded in 1969 and today our activities include monthly meetings, the publication of a magazine for members and subscribers, Branchline and the restoration and operation of a number of pieces of historic railway equipment, The Society's Equipment, located at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.
The Society also operates its equipment at the Canada Science and Technology Museum during the summer, and on special occasions throughout the year.
The Society has had a long history of active participation in the rail scene in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec from running excursions to providing the service crews for the Canada Science and Technology Museum's operation of ex-CP steam locomotive 1201 and their Shay locomotive.
The Society has produced over 30 publications and continues this activity with some recent highly praised Publications for Sale, plus our annual flagship book Canadian Trackside Guide®.
Find out more about the Society's activities by browsing the information here on our site.
NOW SHIPPING!
Canadian Car & Foundry Freight Cars 1900 - 1960
by John Riddell
CC&F – a major builder of both freight and passenger cars.
- soft cover, 200 pages
- 8-1/2 x 11”
- featuring a history of component companies
- over 370 black and white images of CC&F equipment taken by company photographers
- some images from as far back as 1898
- includes chapters on: boxcars, automobile, refrigerator and stock cars, Hart-Otis dump cars, gondolas, open and covered hoppers, flat cars, tank cars, snow plows, cabooses and boarding cars
In order to increase the dissemination of information of preserved railway equipment in Canada, the Bytown Railway Society is pleased to provide "Part 3 Preserved Railway and Traction Equipment" section from the 2024 edition of the Canadian Trackside Guide. It is available via the link below. If you have any comments or updates, please send them to tsg at bytownrailwaysociety dot ca.
2024 Canadian Trackside Guide - Part 3 Preserved Railway and Traction Equipment (pdf)
We've acquired some classic books that you may want to consider adding to your collection. Here are the latest additions:
- "Great Railroad Photographs U.S.A" by Lucius Beebe & Charles Clegg.
- "The Central Pacific & The Southern Pacific Railroads” by Lucius Beebe.
- “Mansions on Rails – The folklore of the Private Railway Car” by Lucius Beebe.
- “Some Classic Trains” by Arthur D. Dubin
Please click here to see more information.