Real Rails 2025 Burlington

October 17th, 18th and 19th, 2025

Holiday Inn and Candle Wood Suites, 3060 South Service Road, Burlington, Ontario, CANADA

Prototype Tours - Speakers - Hobby Manufacturers' Displays - Product Sales - Model Displays - Modular Displays - Huge Train Show - Banquet with Special Guest Speaker

The CPHA, together with the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway Historical Society, the Canadian National Railways Historical Association, and the VIA Historical Association invite you to join us in Burlington, Ontario for the largest railway convention of the millennium in Canada. This is a convention you will not want to miss!

Registration Opens - April st, 2025. Special Discount Registration until June 30th.
Additional Discount for members of CPHA, CNRHA, TH&BHS, VIAHA

Convention Hotel

Our headquarters hotel will be the Holiday Inn and Candle Wood Suites at 3060 South Service Road, Burlington Ontario which is located right next to the QEW highway at the Guelph Line exit in Burlington. It is easily accessible by car and train. For those flying to Toronto, frequent service the Union Station-Pearson dedicated rail service will take you to Union Station where frequent GO trains can bring you to Burlington. This is a family oriented hotel, complete with indoor pool and fitness room plus the choice of rooms or suites. For complete information click here.

Speakers and Presentations*

*As of January 2025. Subject to change without notice.

Keynote Banquet Speaker: Adam Meeks, Manager Heritage Services & Operations, CPKC

Adam's responsibilities include CPR 2816, the Holiday Trains and the Heritage Fleet (Note: Extra Fare of $75 includes buffet banquet.)

CPHA

Doug Welsh - CP mainline standards
Dave Love - CPR Caboose fleet
Doug Phillips - Lightweight streamlined cars of CPR
" " - The Lake Louise tramway, 1912-1930
Paul Clegg - Causes of double tracking west of Calgary
Mike Barone - CPR Snow ploughs
Roger Chrysler - History of CPR's Ontario Electric Lines
Brian Schuff - Photo Stories of Brandon & Wpg MB; Kenora & St. Thomas ON
Fred Headon - Steam Locomotive Photos of Lawrence Stuckey and others
Don Thomas - Windsor Station history
Mark Wittrup - CPR MOW Equipment (C1978-80)
Tom Parkin - Railroad Masonry Construction
Ralph Beaumont - Toronto, Grey & Bruce Ry
Bill Linley - Dominion Atlantic Ry

TH&BHS

John Spring - TH&b Steam Locomotives, 1895-1955
Dave Patterson - Passenger Trains and Early Consists of the 1950s
Brian Barbour - Train Orders
Dave Nicholson - NSC Plant ops and Products
Chris Gagan - 1. Railways of Brantford
" " - 2. Saving Mt. Pleasant Station

CNRHA

Steve Host - Rlwys of Hamilton
Glenn Courtney - CN GP38 Fleet
Doug Fear - GMDD (Based on his Classic Trains Article)
Steve Lucas - CN Maynooth Sub- History & Operations
John Eull - Three Generations of Change
Michael Berry - Contemporary Montreal Operations
Mark Perry - Forty Years with CN in MB
Ed Freeman - T&NO Background & Construction
Keith MacCauley - Procor Ry. Leasing Co.
Peter MacCauley - Rail videographing with a drone

VIA Historical Association

Chris Greenlaw - VIA History
Eric Gagnon - VIA Consists

Other Canadian

Gerald Harper - Anyox Mining Co. and its railroads
Richard McQuade - The Evolution of Cdn Pass Cars from wood to steel, 1860-1921
Steve Bradley - Cando Operations
Ron Tuff - BC Rail

For more REAL RAILS 2025 CONVENTION info: contact Richard McQuade - secretary@cptracks.ca
For more TRAIN SHOW and TABLE RENTAL info: contact Laura Spring - lauraspring66@hotmail.com