Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS)
The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) was formed in 1986 to support railway heritage preservation in Ontario. The Society and its members are dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of vintage railway equipment for the education and enjoyment of the public. The Society is also dedicated to the presentation of our cultural heritage in a new and more meaningful light to generations past, present and future.
The Society is a membership-based, not-for-profit, registered Canadian charity operated entirely by volunteers. SOLRS restores equipment in St. Jacobs, Windsor and Paisley, Ontario. The Society also operates the Waterloo Central Railway between Waterloo and St. Jacobs as a means share the railway experience with the general public. While railway ticket sales cover most of the railway operating expenses, the Society relies on donations, grants, private and corporate contributions for the acquisition and restoration of equipment. Tax receipts are available for all contributions over $20.00.
The Society is governed by a volunteer board of 7 to 12 people elected from the membership and has a membership of over 150 people supporting railway heritage preservation.
Beyond the Waterloo Central Railway operation, the Society operates the Windsor Chapter in Windsor, Ontario and the Bluewater Chapter in Paisley, Ontario.
Once it has been restored, ex-Essex Terminal Railway steam engine number 9 will be one of the few operating steam locomotives in Canada with access to the main Canadian railway network.
Two, smaller 0-4-0 tank engines are currently under restoration. These two locomotives are under restoration which are small enough to move by truck to locations that are difficult to access by rail. They will be available to operate live steam events on any standard gauge track in North America.
In addition to our locomotives, the Society has over 20 pieces of vintage railway rolling stock. A full description of our roster may be found in our Equipment Roster.
Before it arrived in Waterloo, the Society operated steam excursions across Southern Ontario from Windsor to Guelph including Delhi, Dutton, Ingersoll, St. Thomas and all the towns and villages in between.
