The Heritage Railway and Carousel Company is looking to raise $950,000 to build a new station at the waterfront attractions.
In a presentation to council Tuesday night, Dr. Rod Johnston, chair of the group, says the caboose that is there is starting to get rusty and needs to be replaced.
He says their proposed new building will include a number of amenities including washrooms for both the public and volunteers, an Ontario Northland kiosk, Redpath mining-related displays, and more.
“We’ll also have things for sale in the area behind the person selling the tickets,” says Johnston. “In the middle section we’re planning on having wooden pews and having it set up to be like the old-fashioned railway station. We’ve talked to the North Bay tourism association and we’re going to have a kiosk that tells all the things that are going on in North Bay at the time.”
They also hope to have a model train venture around inside the station, highlighting Ontario Northland stops.
Johnston says they’re getting mobilized on the fundraising.
“We hope to have the caboose removed in the summer of ‘27 and have the station begin in the fall of 2027 and be ready for March of 2028,” he says.
Council voted unanimously to offer a letter of support for the project.
Johnston says the railway and carousels have been sustainable since the beginning, adding they’re valued well over $2 million and bring in about $89,000 a year.
The mini-train started in 1994 with the Heritage Carousel opening in 2002, followed by the Winter Wonderland Carousel in 2005.
