Conclusion: A Direction for the Future

The purpose of the railway collection at the Canada Science and Technology Museum is to collect and preserve artifacts representative of the development and impact of railways and railway technology on Canadian life. The Museum is committed to developing this aspect of the collection, and will concentrate on the acquisition of materials and objects illustrative of the history of Canadian railway technology. In particular, areas that are poorly represented, such as more recent diesel-electric locomotive technology, will be identified and developed.

The Museum’s growing collection of mechanical drawings, photographs, books and periodicals is intended to provide, along with the collection of railway artifacts, a permanent resource for Canadians. In ensuring the preservation of this material and its availability for consultation and use, the Museum provides an invaluable service which will permit Canadians to identify and understand, not only something of their past, but also something about themselves.

David W. Monaghan
Curator, Land Transportation