Exporail, the largest railway museum in Canada, located in Saint-Constant, inaugurated on Tuesday, June 16, a brand new car which was pulled by the famous John Molson steam locomotive.
A Quebec first, this novelty offered visitors an immersive ride pulled by an authentic steam locomotive. During this event, the museum unveiled the name of the car, named in honor of a major donor who made this project possible, followed by a series of speeches. The event, lasting approximately one hour, ended with the maiden voyage where all guests were invited to get into the car for its first ride.
“The inauguration of this portable light marks the deployment of a unique attraction in Quebec, exclusive to Exporail. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the exceptional commitment of 24 volunteers, this passenger car, rebuilt from a decommissioned vehicle dating from 1923, will be able to accommodate up to 40 passengers. Pulled by the John Molson steam locomotive, it will offer much more than a simple demonstration: an immersive experience for all ages that puts railway heritage into action and illustrates the essential role of a living museum like ours” – Nadine Cloutier, general director of Exporail.
A project imagined in 1971The idea of adding a wagon to the John Molson locomotive to offer rides to visitors is not new. As soon as the locomotive arrived at the museum in 1971, plans had been prepared. After several iterations over the decades, it was finally in 2021 that a small group of passionate volunteers operating the locomotive relaunched the project with management. A successful fundraising campaign then made it possible to raise the funds necessary for the construction of the car and to ensure its sustainability. The new attraction has a rich historical background. Originally, it was a Canadian National Railways freight car built in 1923 at the Canadian Car and Foundry workshops in Lachine. From 2022 to 2025, more than twenty museum volunteers participated in the conversion work. The original wagon was completely stripped bare before being rebuilt and transformed into a safe stroller for the public.