Background

Toronto Railway Museum’s hardworking volunteers are working to restore Cape Race, a 1920s solarium-lounge car. Much restoration has already been completed to make Cape Race safe to enter, but the passenger compartment areas still require some work. When this phase of restoration is complete, visitors will be able to see both the daytime seating and nighttime configuration of the beds and berths. This will be especially of interest to school groups visiting the museum as very few young people would have experienced overnight railway travel.

Click HERE to donate today. Your support is greatly appreciated and donors will be invited to an exclusive first look at the restoration of Cape Race.

 

A Short History of Cape Race 

Cape Race was a passenger car serving long-distance trains for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).  The history of the Cape Race is somewhat complex and the car has had different names throughout its life.  To get an understanding of this history, we need to look back to passenger rail travel in the 1920s.  Today, CPR and CN only operate freight services.  In the 1920s, the CPR and its rival Canadian National Railways (CNR), operated many intercity passenger services.  The last car on these trains was a lounge-observation car with a small, open-air platform at the rear.  From there, passengers could enjoy fresh air and stunning views of the landscape.  

 

Photos of Cape Race

 

Canadian Transit Heritage Foundation
Fondation canadienne du patrimoine de transport urbain