Remembering the Kentville Railyards

The Town of Kentville, and for that matter much of Kings County, relied not so long ago on an iron ribbon of railway track that became an economic lifeline. Between the "Golden Age of Sail" and the current age of "Trucks and Highway it was the era of the "Iron Horse" and in the Annapolis Valley the Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) was King.

From 1894 until 1994 the DAR ran through the northwestern part of the Province. In 1911 the DAR and all of its subsidiaries was leased by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), which permitted the railway to retain its independence in operations and corporate identity for many decades. By the late 1980's the completion of Highway 101 between Kentville and Yarmouth signaled the decline of the railway in the southwestern part of the province. In the 1990's passenger service and freight service were eliminated and eventually even the grand old Victorian style station, once the headquarters of the DAR, was torn down.

What remains of the once mighty railway that at one time employed one-third of the residents of this town? The old round house still stands on the lands recently excavated by the town for future development. Some of the treasures unearthed during the excavations have found their way into this exhibit. Most notably a pair of lead wheels from a Steam Locomotive pre-1900 have been set up on the front lawn of the museum as a permanent monument to the history of the railway and to former Trainman and museum volunteer Leon Barron. Little else of the tangible history can be seen and much of what was saved was done by local enthusiasts such as Leon Barron. Part of his wonderful collection is on loan to the museum for this exhibit from his wife Mary Barron.

This exhibit is dedicated to the memory of DAR Trainman and Kings County Museum volunteer Leon Barron.

The photographs below are from the exhibit. Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it.

	A fine view of the railyards c1880-90.		A wheel found during recent excavations at the old railyard.
	An exhibit of railway lamps.		A spectacular sight! Five steam locomotives ready to roll.
	The sumptuous interior of a dining car.		An example of silverware used in the dining car.
	Another piece of silverware.		Chinaware showing the DAR crest.
	Two postcards of Kentville station, headquarters of the DAR.
	An oil painting of Kentville station.		The wheels are lead wheels from an old steam locomotive discovered during excavation of the old railyard. They were restored by museum volunteers and are now on display in front of the museum. This exhibit was dedicated to the memory of Leon Barron at the opening of the railway exhibit in October, 2006.