Sanding in Railways

The model train layout of the museum has been intricately designed by Graham MacDonald. There are a lot of different elements that are minutely detailed and fascinatingly designed. One of them is a sand filler for the trains.

These sand fillers were used to fill the sandbox in the trains. The sand was used in many ways and is still in use for traction.

In earlier days, steam engines used sand to clear out the soot created by the coal. The sand was used to clear soot from the flues and tubes. The engineers used a coffee can of sand through the opening in the fire door, from about one foot away.

For more recent use, the sand is used for traction between the train and the tracks when the rails are wet or snowy. The sand really helps the train on a slope.

Visit the museum to know more about the layout, the model train and the history of trains in Ontario.