Where Yales and Harvards fly: a visit to the Dunnville Museum

Muddy the mudcat @Dunnville

From Port Dover, we headed to Dunnville. Muddy, the 50-foot giant mudcat statue, greeted us. There was no mistaking what the town’s mascot was! There it was by the Centennial Park but as there was no good place for us to park quickly for a good photo op, I had to make do with the picture I was able to take.

Dunnville Museum

From there, we headed to the No.6 RCAF (Royal Canadian Airforce) Dunnville Museum where we checked out artifacts and training aircraft from the No. 6 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) that was used to train fighter pilots during World War II. They had quite an extensive display of photos, uniforms, memorabilia, medals, and we even saw some attendance sheets!

by the Memorial Gardens @No 6 RCAF Museum

I was so intent on listening to the wonderful couple who gave us a tour to snap a pic of the cool flight simulator they had. We then headed to the hangar to see vintage aircraft of the type used during training. We all quite enjoyed checking out the various aircraft (Yale, Cornell, and Fleet Finch). The girls even got to sit in the cockpit of a Grumman S2E Tracker (used then for anti-submarine duty). So cool!

Grumman Tracker @No 6 RCAF Museum

Yale plane @No 6 RCAF museum

Fleet Finch @No 6 RCAF Museum

It was so amazing to be able to check out museums like these all over the country. It didn’t have to be a fancy museum to pique the interest of the girls (or even the adults). How wonderful that somehow, somewhere, folks are able to keep the various artifacts from history. We hope many more generations can enjoy this museum! 

All Aboard the Mini-steam trains of Richmond Hill Live Steamers

Miniature Train @Richmond Hill Live Steamers

In the forests of York Region lies a hidden gem—the Richmond Hill Live Steamers. We checked out the wonderful collection of privately owned miniature trains which people can actually ride on!

Steam-train enthusiasts established this non-profit live-steam club dedicated to building and operating scale model steam, electric and diesel locomotives. The club is situated in about 4 acres filled with trees where the train tracks travel through trees and over bridges.

The fam and I rode beautiful mini-trains with engines powered by steam generated by burning coal. How cool is that?! 

Steam generated from burning coal, Miniature Trains @Richmond Hill Live Steamers

Some are battery powered electric engines and can pull several children or two or three adults. They also have a bigger train which can pull about 20 people.

It was a fun ride, with conductors in overalls and caps. As we went through the trees, it was very peaceful—like having your own private train ride in the forest. And it was quite private, with the next train far behind, leaving us to our thoughts with just the hum of the engine and the gentle vibration of the tracks. A whistle would blow now and then.

Through the forest--riding the miniature train @Richmond Hill Live Steamers

It was a short ride compared to the long line up, quite reminiscent of amusement parks. It was great, nonetheless. As it is a club, they are only open for an occasional event now and then.