Live Your Dreams
Edmundston Railways: From Real to Miniature
Where the Impossible Exists
This past September, I spent a fantastic week hiking around the breathtaking Temiscouata Lake area (Quebec, Canada). The only rainy day of that week I hopped in my car and drove to the next province, New Brunswick. I opted for the “stay positive and spend the day discovering another city of this beautiful country” attitude.
So, 45 minutes later I arrived downtown Edmundston (New Brunswick). Pouring rain and finding the tourism building closed for the day.
I had forgotten it was labor day weekend. So, I picked my phone and checked the tourist recommendations must-do’s on Google.
Several museums and local artisan local product stores came up. The one that got my intention was the Railroad Interpretation Center.
Thinking, hum? Can this interest me?
Honestly, I know nothing about trains, except that they have played a crucial role in the development of major cities across the country.
I drove there and when I arrived it was still pouring rain. I was the only one in the huge parking lot. I looked around and the place looked closed?
I was about to leave when a lady came out with two umbrellas to greet me. Pulling down my window she said ‘Hi I am the co-owner, Géraldine Laforge, and Yes the museum is open!’ She invited me in. With our huge umbrellas we managed getting in not wet.
WOW royal service here!
Intrigued, I asked her about the visit schedule and fare. She answered ‘For 9$ you have access to the entire site visit.’ Looking out at the pouring rain, I said ‘Why not?’
Not knowing what to expect, I was completely flabbergasted and impressed with both my decision (out of my comfort zone) to visit this touristic gem and the owners passion. Géraldine and Guy D. Laforge have spent uncountable hours in realizing this humongous project.
The visit starts within a 1900’s train shed replica hangar exhibiting annually a different theme related to railroads workers’ lives through various eras.
Continuing the visit to the miniature railroads
The basement is another fabulous jaw-opening experience!
Hence their site known as the ‘Centre d’Interprétation des Voies Ferrées : Du Réel au Miniature’ which can be translated to the ‘Railroad Interpretation Center: From Real to Miniature’.
They describe on their website:
Welcome aboard for a miniature tour of New-Brunswick, a magnificent journey through the modeller’s eyes.
An hour visit that will leave you speechless. Welcome to the Railroad Interpretation Center: Du Réel Au Miniature, where the impossible exists.
With a 900 square feet HO 1/87 scale lay-out that is constantly changing. You’ll see a great deal of different miniature cars, structures, engines, scenery and many scale kilometers of tracks.
Oh and by the way, I forgot to mention, the entire New Brunswick railways train miniature replica is automated.
Yep!
With the assistance of four of his train buddies, Guy D. Laforge has also taken the time and invested in a computerized control station hidden under the curtains of the stands.
I was astonished with the New-Brunswick miniature railroads replica.
Every single details were respected and thought through.
Respecting the eras and current life movements, they kept updating the project by adjusting the details. Best example is the LGBT flag graffiti on one of the miniature-scaled train wagons replica.
Souvenir shop and upcoming projects
In the souvenir shop, the owners talk to me about all their upcoming projects. They still have so many!
Adding to their outside hop-on train, which can pull 6000 pounds, I hitched a ride around their lot. Their main new project is to build small camping huts equipped with hammocks made of recycled jeans as beds.
Géraldine and Guy D. Laforge are proud owners of a very green and sustainable project. Roughly 90% of the site was build using recycled materials and textiles.
A nice corner of their souvenir boutique holds train conductors hats and very chic carry-all bags made of recycled jeans, scarfs, buttons and other recycled ornaments. They offer various sizes, no two are the same and each bag’s detailed ornaments are unique. These are added treasures to this already enchanted spot.
The couple’s passion is transmitted throughout the visit and during their presentation of the New Brunswick railroads history.
Their train related memorabilia collection is bigger than nature. Or, should I say miniaturized to nature to enable them to fit all their projects on this site.
WOW! Another great life lesson!
Never stop dreaming and don’t limit your imagination, creativity and resourcefulness based on your age!
This is exactly what rainy days are for!
My little 9$ investment was worth every penny for this amazing touristic gem discovery.
This visit gave me a lifelong souvenir of a passionate couple who dared to dream so big, they had to downsize their project to be able to realize them all at the same place, their home.
Centre d’Interprétation des Voies Ferrées/Railroad Interpretation Center
DuRéel au Miniature
Edmundston NB
Francine Fallara 2020