Halton County Radial Railway
Halton County Radial Railway
4.5
About
Open weekends from first weekend in May to last weekend in October (10 am to 5 pm) and weekdays July and August (10 am to 4:30 pm. We will be open the first two Saturdays in December for our Christmas on the Rails event for 1 pm to 8 pm. Santa, Chili, Cider, Streetcars in the woods of North Halton.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
146 reviews
Excellent
85
Very good
49
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Brian G
Toronto, Canada58 contributions
Aug 2022
Not a train enthusiast but saw a video on YouTube and thought it looked interesting. The tracks and the rides were good, but the collection in the barn was amazing. Very impressed with the amount of trains and the setup. The volunteers/staff were very friendly and ready to share information on the artifacts.
Spent 3 hours viewing the collection, taking 2 train rides and having lunch from the reasonably priced snack bar.
So glad I went, totally worth a visit.
Spent 3 hours viewing the collection, taking 2 train rides and having lunch from the reasonably priced snack bar.
So glad I went, totally worth a visit.
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suonada
Finland14 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We went as a family and really enjoyed our visit. The tram rides through the forest are my favourite. The tram driver was so friendly. He invited my young child to ride up front with him and showed him how to drive. The trains and trams in the barn that you get to go into are also really cool, and my child enjoyed spending time in the play area too. Next time we go we'll reserve more time.
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aaron
Kananaskis Country, Canada36 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We went as a family (incl. a 3 y/o and a 6 y/o) on a rainy day and had an awesome time. There were train rides in multiple forms of antique rail cars, lots of enthusiastic and interesting tour guides, a railcar museum with a lot of really interesting old railway equipment and railcars, and even a railcar that had been converted into an ice cream parlor! And all of this is in a forest - so you can literally ride an antique railcar through a forest to a charming ice cream parlor. Pretty cool stuff!
Written July 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dominika K
Guelph, Canada145 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
We had a fun Fathers Day. We love seeing all the trains and being to ride the 3 different ones as many times as we wanted. Seeing all the old trains and being able to see how they are inside was really neat. Speaking with the volunteers you will learn a lot from them about the history and interesting facts. Pack a lunch as there are picnic tables you can sit and relax.
There are bathrooms and change table.There is a gift shop. Ice cream cart. Gift shop also sells hot dogs, small snacks to grab.
There are bathrooms and change table.There is a gift shop. Ice cream cart. Gift shop also sells hot dogs, small snacks to grab.
Written June 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BD_in_TO63
Toronto, Canada156 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
This place is AWESOME !!! It's a rail museum hidden away in the forest. You get to ride vintage Toronto streetcars on a short little loop track. And the barns contain a number of other streetcars, subway cars and a bus or 2. You can walk through many of them and they even have original ads from when they were in use.
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RescueTeam 🇨🇦
West Grey, Canada110,895 contributions
The Halton County Radial Railway (Streetcar Museum) is run by a friendly group of volunteers, all of them who appeared to be very knowledgeable about the various streetcars, interurban cars, rapid transit vehicles and electric locomotives they have their collection.
Located on the side of Guelph Line northwest of Milton, our visit was a great afternoon for Nana, Grand Dad, kids and grand kids. We all enjoyed riding on the old restored streetcars and interurban cars, one dating back to 1892 !
The operators and conductors were all very friendly and knowledgeable. Special attention was given to the youngest of our group and the other children on the cars.
Inside one of the old railway stations (that was relocated to this site) there are photographs, memorabilia and archival material that we all found to be interesting. The best part of the visit is riding the 2+ km of rails on the various streetcars and interurban cars, leaning about each of their histories. The highlight of the day was when the “open carriage” streetcar was ridden. It was a bright warm day and the breeze was very pleasant. However, it is obvious to see why this streetcar does not get used at often as the others, as it can only be used as weather permits.
Situated tucked away on a country lot, it is easy to see how this attraction could be missed. The old un-restored buses and streetcars at the entrance do NOT do this museum justice !
For those with mobility problems – the primary focus of this museum is streetcars and riding them. If you have difficulty climbing on and off a city streetcar, then this is not an attraction that you may wish to consider.
From the street, the “parked” un-restored vehicles give a bad first impression, but we had a really great afternoon visiting the past. I would highly recommend this attraction for young and old alike.
Located on the side of Guelph Line northwest of Milton, our visit was a great afternoon for Nana, Grand Dad, kids and grand kids. We all enjoyed riding on the old restored streetcars and interurban cars, one dating back to 1892 !
The operators and conductors were all very friendly and knowledgeable. Special attention was given to the youngest of our group and the other children on the cars.
Inside one of the old railway stations (that was relocated to this site) there are photographs, memorabilia and archival material that we all found to be interesting. The best part of the visit is riding the 2+ km of rails on the various streetcars and interurban cars, leaning about each of their histories. The highlight of the day was when the “open carriage” streetcar was ridden. It was a bright warm day and the breeze was very pleasant. However, it is obvious to see why this streetcar does not get used at often as the others, as it can only be used as weather permits.
Situated tucked away on a country lot, it is easy to see how this attraction could be missed. The old un-restored buses and streetcars at the entrance do NOT do this museum justice !
For those with mobility problems – the primary focus of this museum is streetcars and riding them. If you have difficulty climbing on and off a city streetcar, then this is not an attraction that you may wish to consider.
From the street, the “parked” un-restored vehicles give a bad first impression, but we had a really great afternoon visiting the past. I would highly recommend this attraction for young and old alike.
Written August 29, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GNAB_Travels
Toronto, Canada218 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
Rail museums are, by definition, for train buffs. As a volunteer driven, donation funded, museum its in a permanent state of delicate decay and gradual rebuilding; which can be viewed as annoying and inconvenient when things are blocked off, or viewed as part of the essence of a live railway where things are not just on display. In that sense it doesn't feel like a museum, and more, as I'm sure it's volunteer members like it, like a functioning streetcar network; pile of old parts and the occasional decaying old tram included. For a kid with autism and a train fixation it's a dream come true. The day we visited there were three streetcars running in rotation up and down their stretch of track between the main yard and the "east end" where a retired street car has been fitted out as an ice cream cafe. The 20 minute circuit is perfect for taking one tram out, staying for an ice cream, and catching the next (different) tram car back. To complete the set, if 3 are running, take one more round trip. Then go visit the big barn full of old and restored subway cars, trams, maintenance cars and a handful of the hated (they replaced rail) buses. The big car barn could use more light - a few skylights would vastly improve the view-ability of the collection.
The volunteers are very knowledgeable about the cars and history of light rail in Toronto and the region. Listen to what they say on the tram ride, and engage them in conversation, and even though without much of an interest in railways will be impressed and educated. Remarkably, we learned, they are located on what used to be a tram line that went from Toronto all the way to Guelph from the 1930s. A feat Ontario's modern regional commuter rail system has not yet managed to replicate.
Food on premises is very limited - hot dogs, pop, chips, ice cream. And there isn't much around there. In fact, remarkably little. So if you end up there mid-day (which, since it opens at 11am is likely) - you want to pack a lunch. If its Sunday, then (as we discovered) what little there is in the surrounding towns is pretty much closed too.
The volunteers are very knowledgeable about the cars and history of light rail in Toronto and the region. Listen to what they say on the tram ride, and engage them in conversation, and even though without much of an interest in railways will be impressed and educated. Remarkably, we learned, they are located on what used to be a tram line that went from Toronto all the way to Guelph from the 1930s. A feat Ontario's modern regional commuter rail system has not yet managed to replicate.
Food on premises is very limited - hot dogs, pop, chips, ice cream. And there isn't much around there. In fact, remarkably little. So if you end up there mid-day (which, since it opens at 11am is likely) - you want to pack a lunch. If its Sunday, then (as we discovered) what little there is in the surrounding towns is pretty much closed too.
Written July 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark R
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada23 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
After going to many child-oriented attractions during the summer of 2013, I convinced my 6 year-old daughter to go to the Halton County Radial Railway. For people coming from Durham (as we were) it was a long drive, but it was totally worth it. I had last visited the HCRR about 15 years ago, and I was delighted by it then. Today, however, it is totally amazing. As I walked into the large barn where they store the bulk of their collection I could not believe my eyes. There are representative samples of radial railway cars, subway cars, streetcars, specialty cars (including some that I remember seeing in service). We rode on a radial car from the London - Port Stanley line, and then on another open car, both of which were superb. The stop to get ice cream was magical - the lady serving there was so kind, the setup in the old street car was really neat, and to top it all off, an extremely friendly neighbourhood cat was walking around outside welcoming everybody. The volunteers who run this place should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished. This is an awesome, important place for railfans and an accessible day out for everybody.
Written September 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pablo1234
Milton, Canada30 contributions
Sept 2012 • Family
Great family destination. Perfect step back in time. Lots of parking and the guides are friendly and knowledgable
Written August 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigL49
Edmond, Oklahoma166 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
As a retired railroad man, I frequently visit railroad museums. This "Streetcar" museum caught my eye, but being in a small town I anticipated a small museum. To my surprise it was not small. They have a superb collection of antique streetcars and a few buses, most restored and displayed wonderfully. Additionally your price of admission allows you to ride as many times as you wish on their 2 km (or so) of track. The volunteers are very friendly and explained all that they were doing. I cannot recommend this 'hidden jewel' enough for the transportation buff, or just to the kid who really likes trains.
Written July 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
whats the min waiting time in queue for the train rides ?
Written September 12, 2017
They run the trains fairly often and change which ones they run. The wait, though I can't remember it was not long. There is a snack train at the end of route that you could get off and have ice cream etc. at. It runs quite frequently since the whole train is only a few kilometers.
Written November 20, 2017
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