Trains, Trains and More Trains Next Weekend
at the Science and Tech Museum
Railway Weekend,
Saturday, August 6 - Sunday, August 7, 2005
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Ottawa — Railway enthusiasts will converge on the Canada Science and Technology Museum next weekend for the museum’s popular annual Railway Weekend, August 6 and 7.

Museum visitors will get an extra-close look at some of the enormous, powerful machines that have driven so much of Canada’s history. Features of the weekend include:

• Train rides – Ten-minute rides in a 1918 wooden caboose or a 1907 superintendent’s car pulled by the museum’s vintage, steam-powered, Shay locomotive.
• Heavy machinery display – Visitors can take the train to this special display, put on by the Bytown Railway Society, which includes an old steam-powered crane that will actually be operating.
• The 6400 locomotive – Visitors can climb right up into the cab of this impressive locomotive that pulled the Royal Train during the 1939 royal visit.
• Collection Tours – Tours of the rail artifacts stored in the museum’s warehouse, not usually on display to the public. Artifacts include beautiful rail cars that served as the personal quarters of King George VI and the Queen Mother during the Royal Tour of 1939.
• Mechanical Marvel Workshop – A short workshop demonstrating how a steam locomotive works.
• Crafts for kids, railway movies – A children’s activity area will feature some take-home crafts, and a variety of railway-themed movies will be shown all day in the museum’s auditorium.

All activities are included with regular admission fees. From trains to telephones, and satellites to snowmobiles, all the museum’s activities and exhibitions offer a glimpse into Canada’s rich science and technology heritage. Main exhibition halls and displays are open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6; $3 for children (ages 4-14); $5 for students and seniors; $14 for a family (2 adults and 3 children); children under 4 are free. The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located at 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard and offers free parking on-site.

General information: Call 613 991-3044 or our Toll free number: 1-866-442-4416.

Media contact:
Caroline Desabrais, 613 998-5342, cdesabrais@technomuses.ca