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Museum of Surrey launches virtual tour for new Heritage Rail exhibit

Online tour of ‘20 Years: Surrey’s Heritage Rail’ offers snapshot into the history of trains in Surrey
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The Museum of Surrey is now offering a virtual tour of their new Community Treasures exhibit titled “20 Years: Surrey’s Heritage Rail.” (Screenshot)

After a new Community Treasures exhibit opened at the the Museum of Surrey, the museum has followed up with a virtual tour online.

Called “20 Years: Surrey’s Heritage Rail,” the new Community Treasures exhibition is being showcased from June 2 to Sept. 5.

“The exhibit celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society,” reads a storyboard at the Museum of Surrey. “The organization is 100% volunteer run. Included are artifacts from both the Heritage Railway Society and the Surrey Heritage Collection.”

The virtual tour offers those who can’t make it down to the museum in person an opportunity to see the exhibition from the comfort of their own homes.

“My colleague Sandra Borger started the virtual tours long before 2020 and COVID,” said Colleen Sharpe, curator of exhibits.

SEE ALSO: Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society awarded more than $300K in prov. grant money

SEE ALSO: Exhibition on Surrey’s train history opens at Museum of Surrey

Sharpe said Borger used to be the visitor experience coordinator for the museum. She added Borger did outstanding work to increase accessibility all over the museum.

“She organized Sensory Sunday’s, arranged Telecoil to be installed at the front desk and in the theatre, even iPads with an app at the front desk to connect with American Sign Language interpreters for visitors who need this. She did many many things around accessibility.”

Borger was inspired to create the virtual tours in an effort to expand on her goal of increased accessibility.

“It helps to reach audiences who may not be able to come to the museum either for financial reasons, or physical ones.”

Michael Gibbs, co-chair of communications for the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society (FVHRS), said he appreciates the exhibit’s online presence.

“Surrey is a very large city, so it’s wonderful that the Museum of Surrey has committed to virtual tours that make the exhibits more accessible.”

For in-person tourists, the exhibit features an interactive train simulator where people can virtually drive a B.C.E.R. train down the spike from Cloverdale Station to Sullivan Station.

“I’m really impressed with how the simulator works,” Gibbs previously told the Cloverdale Reporter. “The picture is crystal clear and it really gives you a feel for driving down the tracks. There are also bells and whistles that kids will get a kick out of playing with.”

A link to the Heritage Rail virtual tour can be found by visiting the museum’s website and searching under “Community Treasures”, or by clicking here.

Virtual tours from past exhibits can be found on the museum’s website as well.

KIDS

Train Days at the Museum is a separate event that will run June 25-26 and will be focused just on kids.

Visitors to Train Days at the Museum can participate in a train-themed scavenger hunt, check out train memorabilia, and learn about the history of trains in Surrey through the lens of the FVHRS.

Visitors to the Museum of Surrey must pre-register by calling 604.592.6956 or emailing museum@surrey.ca. Visitors can also register online if they have a MySurrey account.



editor@cloverdalereporter.com

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Malin Jordan

About the Author: Malin Jordan

Malin is the editor of the Cloverdale Reporter.
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