Richmond Hill Live Steamers

Richmond Hill Live Steamers

Attractions

Tucked away in the peaceful woods of Ballantrae, the Richmond Hill Live Steamers is a non-profit club that builds and operates fully functioning scale model locomotives. Steam, electric, and diesel trains zip along the tracks on the club's 3.5-acre lot, transporting visitors through the trees, over bridges, and back to a simpler time when trains were a chief mode of transportation.

 

The larger of the club's two sections of track is 1800 feet in length, with trains capable of pulling 10 to 20 adults at a time.

Admission is free, but the Richmond Hill Live Steamers accept donations to help offset operation costs.

The club was originally formed by a small group of model engineers, many of whom are still actively involved today. Member participation and visitor donations have helped the Richmond Hill Live Steamers facility grow into the best track site in Ontario.

Members meet on the third Sunday of every month to discuss the running of the track site, as well as to share ideas, knowledge, and tricks of the trade. The club members are very knowledgeable, and visitors are encouraged to ask questions about the trains, their construction and operation, as well as their history.

The Richmond Hill Live Steamers also host open house weekends in July and September, bringing together model train enthusiasts from all over and inviting them to make use of the club's facilities.

The Richmond Hill Live Steamers track site is an interesting local tourist attraction that draws more than simply model train enthusiasts and history buffs. The facility is immensely entertaining for children and adults alike, and for those with interests ranging from science to photography.

The Richmond Hill Live Steamers track site is located at 15922 McCowan Avenue at St. John's Side Road. For more information, email the club at clothiers@sympatico.ca or visit www.geocities.com/richmondhill_livesteam/.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.