South Simcoe Railway

Planning Your Trip - Frequently Asked Questions

These are answers to some of the common questions asked by visitors to the railway.

Who runs the excursions?

South Simcoe Railway's rail excursions are operated by the South Simcoe Railway Heritage Corporation, a non-profit historical association dedicated to the preservation and operation of railway equipment from Canada's steam era.

Which locomotive is used on the train?

Which locomotive is used on the train? Any of our vintage locomotives can be used, subject to availability.

The majority of excursions will operate behind either engine #703 or engine #136. At present, we do not have scheduled dates for steam locomotive 136 due to planned maintenance. Excursions are presently scheduled to operate behind engine #703.

Please note that operating equipment is subject to change without notice.

Do your locomotives burn coal?

Our steam locomotives do (and yes, it's all shovelled by hand)! Our diesel locomotives don't (they run on diesel fuel).

Which vintage locomotives are in your fleet?

Our vintage locomotive fleet includes:

#136, a Rogers 4-4-0 steam locomotive built in Paterson NJ in 1883
#1057, an MLW 4-6-0 steam locomotive built in Montreal QC in 1912
#703, a GE 70 ton diesel-electric locomotive built in Erie PA in 1948
#22, a CLC 44 ton diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in Kingston ON in 1960

Does the train run if it is raining? Does the train have a roof?

Our passenger cars are fully enclosed. They are heated in the colder months and have opening windows for a nice breeze in the summer months. The excursions operate rain or shine.

Can we get off the train during the trip?

At the moment there are no facilities to detrain during the trip. We are currently fundraising so that this will be a possibility in the future.

Are there washrooms on the train?

There are no washrooms on-board the train. Modern washroom facilities are located at the station in Tottenham.

Is the train handicapped-accessible?

We do have handicapped parking available near the platform, and the washrooms on site are also wheelchair-accessible. However, boarding the train may require climbing steps into the coach, depending on which coaches are on the train. Please call the railway office at (905) 936-5815 weekday mornings for more information - dates when an acccessible coach is scheduled to be on the train are listed here but please call to confirm.

Can I bring my dog on the train?

We would prefer that you didn't, but we will permit small dogs on the train as long as the passengers seated around you do not object. Your dog must remain on the floor and not on the seats, and must be under your full control at all times.

Can we eat or drink on the train?

Smoking, food and drinks are not permitted on board the train (with the exception of bottled water).