The New Brunswick Railway Museum and Salmon River Trestle

The Museum Entrance in Hillsboro, NB

 A Railroad Museum in Hillsboro, NB....by Don Janes

     As a follow-up to my post about the former CPR station in McAdam, NB, I am posting some photos of the New Brunswick Railway Museum in the quaint little town of Hillsboro, NB on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, about 25 miles from Moncton. 

     We were travelling to the Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy when we passed through the little town of Hillsboro New Brunswick and came across the railway museum at the edge of town.  We pulled in and had a quick look around but since our mission was to watch the tide recede from around the Hopewell Rocks we decided to keep going and return the next day.  The museum had a lot of outdoor displays and a large building at the back that housed several more vintage pieces of equipment including a CNR 4-6-0 and a couple of old MLW diesel locomotives but unfortunately the museum had just opened and the doors to that building were still locked. I took a few quick photos then we headed of.

     We returned to the museum early the next day since we had a long way to travel but unfortunately it was not opening until noon so I was not going to get to see the engines in the shed but the weather was beautiful and I was able to get shots of all the pieces outside.  There were no fences around the museum so I was able to wonder around and take all the photos I wanted.

   I am not sure whether the station building, which is the main museum, is an original station or had been constructed in later years.  I believe Hillsboro was on a CNR line but since I didn't get to go in and see its history am not really sure.  I do know they used to run excursion trains here years ago but as far as I can see any tracks that they ran on are now gone. I am really glad I was able to see this museum, if even from the outside. The equipment has obviously well cared for and the grounds are very well maintained.  If I ever get back there I will make sure to be there when the museum is open.

     

One of the more interesting pieces at the museum was this double ended CNR snowplow

This old CNR tender had been converted for MOW service. It was likely off of one of CN's big 4-8-4 steam engines.

This CPR Crane and Boom Car were an interesting display. Both in very good condition

These two CN coaches were on display outside the station/museum building

This old tank car was typical of tank cars used up until the 1960's. Unfortunately I can't make out the faded name on the side.

This old spreader was a very unique piece of equipment

The wooden sides of this CNR gondola is quite faded but the car is in excellent condition otherwise.

It looks they are in the process of restoring this old CNR wood Caboose.

   

  One more place we stopped on the way home was the huge CNR trestle over the Salmon River just outside of New Denmark, NB. It was built in 1910 and is 3920 feet long and is 195 feet high..It is the second longest railway bridge in Canada, next to the longer trestle in Lethbridge, AB. After we finally found the bridge and scouted out a spot to get a good overall look at it, CN was kind enough to send a long westbound intermodal train our way so we could photograph it on this impressive trestle. It truly is a sight to behold.

 

The two photos above were taken looking across the valley from the road below the bridge on the north side of the river

A long CN intermodal train is heading north across the bridge. Photo was taken from a road on the south side of the trestle.