Timeline
Mayor Harold Prescott secures a “Mountain” type steam engine, CN #6077, for display in Capreol. The area becomes known as Prescott Park.
A Heritage Committee is formed by a small group of volunteers eager to preserve the history of the town. They start collecting pictures, newspaper clippings, and artifacts related to the history of the town and the railway.
The Heritage Committee obtains a Rules Instruction Car to be converted and displayed as a replica of a School Car.
The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (NORMHC) is incorporated as a non-profit organization with its own Board of Directors. Prescott Park is donated to NORMHC by the Town of Capreol. The Town of Capreol Celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
During the months of July and August, the caboose is open to the public with a display of railroad memorabilia.
The house at 26 Bloor Street, formerly the home of the first CN Superintendent in Capreol, is purchased by the Town of Capreol to be used by NORMHC as a Museum.
July 5th, at 2pm, Mayor Dave Kilgour and Museum President Rocky Larsson, cut the ribbon marking the Grand Opening of the Museum house.
The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum is designated a Heritage Site. A wrought iron gate is built for the museum by Gerry Gagnon.
The NORMHC Foundation is incorporated to provide financial support for the museum.
The museum lays new rail in Prescott Park in preparation for the arrival of new rolling stock.
NORMHC completes the restoration of it’s rules instruction car in Prescott Park, and becomes home to INCO Electrics #101 and #116 as well as former CNR Snow Plow #55208, steel caboose #79231 and baggage/warehouse car #60049.
The museum, with assistance from the Prescott family and several community volunteers, repaints CN steam locomotive #6077. Capreol is inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame.
The museum opens its boxcar home exhibit. NORMHC hosts its first ever gold panning event on the Vermilion River. The museum completes its strategic plan.
The museum opens its section man shed showcasing a variety of maintenance of way equipment.
NORMHC opens its new mining exhibit with the arrival of a hot metal car from Vale. The display also incorporates a variety of underground railroad equipment used in Falconbridge Ltd. operations. The museum completes its Garden of Life to help promote and raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. New…Read More
The museum acquires the former Capreol Fire Hall and Town Centre as an annex to the existing museum. This new Heritage Centre houses displays related to the region’s social history as well as a 1928 Gotfredson Bickle Fire Engine. NORMHC constructs a G Scale train layout in the Garden of…Read More
The museum adds a locomotive themed playground to Prescott Park. With the help of Hite Services, the museum restores the historic nose cone on steam locomotive #6077. In cooperation with the Capreol Community Action Network and the Capreol Business Association, the museum begins a significant re-greening project throughout downtown Capreol.…Read More
NORMHC welcomes former Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railways steam locomotive #219 to Prescott Park on April 8th. With funding from the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Sudbury Community Foundation and the Healthy Communities Initiatives Fund, walkways and a wheelchair ramp are constructed through Prescott Park and into the museum house improving…Read More
A new cab is fabricated by Hite Services for T&NO steam locomotive #219. The original jail cells at the Capreol Fire Hall, now the museum’s Heritage Centre, are opened to the public for viewing. Vale donates a wooden pump car for display. Volunteers complete a railway themed mural on site…Read More
The museum forms a partnership to become the new clubhouse for the Sudbury Railway Modellers. A new permanent sports display is unveiled at the Heritage Centre location in time for the museum’s May opening. Canadian Pacific Railways donates a miniature ride-on train to the museum for special events. The museum…Read More
The museum partners with the Capreol Volunteer Firefighters Association to acquire former Capreol Pumper No.4, a 1986 Ford Superior, recently retired from service with Greater Sudbury Fire Services. The cab is salvaged to create an interactive exhibit for visitors. Also opened for the first time are a new Model Railway…Read More
On Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 at the Ristorante Verdicchio in Sudbury, Ontario, the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre was honoured with a Dr. Edward J. Conroy Community Leadership Award. The town of Capreol celebrates its centennial celebrations and the museum celebrates its twenty-five year anniversary. Centennial celebration highlights…Read More
The museum unveils a new locomotive bell display in Prescott Park and hosts a new “Tool Shed” exhibit featuring its collection of antique chainsaws. A fan built Optimus Prime replica opens the Big Truck Meet Up Event while the museum launches two new events, Harry Potter Day and the #219…Read More
The museum works with the town to bring back the Capreol Winter Carnival. The Terror Train #6077 is re-imagined as a drive in style haunt adhering to COVID-19 protocols. The museum completes the restoration of steel caboose #79231, expands the sectionman shed and places a new roof on the boxcar…Read More
NORMHC becomes a member of the Railway Alliance Canadian Branch. The museum adds butterfly houses to the gardens, as well as a Little Free Library by the street.
Jurassic Park replica vehicles draw unprecedented crowds to the annual Big Truck Showcase. NORMHC acquires a 1967 Cub Lo-Boy tractor, updates the sectionman building, and adds an enhanced Monarch Butterfly display to Prescott Park.
