About Us and Our History

– About Us –

The Melville Rail Station Heritage Association or MRSHA is a non-profit organization (CRA number 86110 9773 RR0001) dedicated to restoring the Melville train station. MRSHA was created on 30 August, 2004 in response to Canadian National Railways (CN) plans to demolish the train station. After six years of negotiations ownership of the station was taken over by MRSHA and the land that it sits on was leased for 99 years.

Melville Rail Station Exterior Renovated

– History –

The Melville train station was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) in 1908. Its large size is due to Melville’s importance as both a divisional point and a railway junction. Besides the mainline, branch lines extend to both Regina and Canora. The only other station in the GTPR built to the same plans, albeit with modifications, was built in McBride in 1914. It burned down four years later in 1918, leaving the Melville train station a unique structure. In 1920 the GTPR was absorbed by Canadian National Railways. CN continued to use the station and over the years made radical changes to the first floor altering its interior as well as the exterior.

The National Film Board featured Melville in a 30 minute film entitled Railroad Town. Released in 1956, a very young Fred Davis narrates the film, often with the station in the background. It can be viewed at https://www.nfb.ca/film/railroad_town/. In 1996 under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act, the Station was designated a Heritage Railway Station of Canada. Melville has hosted several famous name trains over it’s history, including the Daily Limited (GTPR), the Continental Limited (CNR), the Super Continental (CNR, CN, VIA Rail), and the Canadian (VIA Rail).

– Restoration to Date –

Once MRSHA took possession of the station in 2010 restoration efforts concentrate mainly in the exterior. Nearly half a million dollars was expended to this end. The roof was replaced, stucco that was added in the 1920s was removed, all windows were replaced, siding was either replaced or refurbished. Several doors and windows were returned to their original locations. The original GTPR colours were used on the outside. Interior work was also undertaken. Basements walls and a supporting pillar were reinforced and interior demolition returned the first floor interior to its 1908 footprint. In 2023 the streetside vestibule (main entrance foyer) on the northside of the station was fully restored allowing the public to see what the rest of the interior will look like once the restoration is complete. In 2024 the trackside vestibule on the southside of the station was fully restored as well.

Melville Rail Station Interior Renovated

Melville Rail Station Volunteers December 2023

– Volunteers Welcomed –

MRSHA is in need of community minded volunteers that want to contribute to the restoration of the station. Whether your talents lie in carpentry, electrical, painting or computers your skills would be a great fit to this worthy project.

Those interested should contact us at 306-730-6707 or melvillerailstation@gmail.com.

– Proposed Use –

There are two guiding principles in deciding what to use the station for once the restoration is complete. The first one is that it must serve the community. The second is that it must be financially self-sufficient. Therefore it is proposed that:

The second floor offices be restored and rented out. The going rate for office space in Melville is $6.00 per square foot. Melville businesses can benefit from its central location and rental income can then be used for station maintenance and upgrades.

On the main floor there are two large open areas; the general waiting room and the ladies waiting area, spaces that can be rented out for receptions, meetings and markets. These are ideal for anyone that is looking for a small, intimate and historical setting.

Bring back VIA Rail. VIA Rail at one time operated passenger services out of the station until they moved their waiting room to a small building just east of the station. Bringing back VIA Rail to the station would serve both VIA Rail and Melville well. VIA Rail Canada operates the world-famous Canadian offering transcontinental service between Toronto and Vancouver, stopping at Melville twice a week in both directions. For detailed schedules and information visit viarail.ca or phone 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245) and for up-to-date arrival and departure information, visit tsimobile.viarail.ca

Put the Beanery back into operation. The station restaurant, known as the “Beanery” was closed in the 1970s. Since then its economical meals and 24 hour a day operation has been sorely missed. The Beanery would improve the lives of hundreds of CN employees who work around the clock only a few feet away from the station as well the surrounding community.

4 Main St

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