By: Michel Labrecque
Ingenium – Canada's Museums of Science and Technology
A virtual tour of the Governors General rail cars
Photo Credit
matterport
Click on the Above Link for an Immersive Experience
Today's augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies give the digital museum visitor access to artifact storage areas not otherwise seen, and rarely visited. In this VR walking tour, you will see the inside of two rail cars used by Governors General, Royal parties, and various dignitaries.
Enter the sleeping car (artifact no. 1967.1138). Scroll through to reveal the sitting room, appointed with couch and chairs. As you walk along the corridor you will get to see the inside of four bedrooms, two with water closet, two with lavatory, and then a water closet with tub. The second car is the dining car (artifact no. 1967.1137). Enter the lounge area and visit a 12-seat dining room, pantry, kitchen, two bedrooms and an office.
The highlights below were selected by Sharon Babaian, Curator of land and marine transportation with Ingenium Museums.
- First trip by Lord and Lady Willingdon to visit Washington (1927)
- Royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (1939)
- Visit of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip (1951)
- Visit by Princess Margaret (1958)
- Royal visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (1959)
In 1967, the cars were used to transport officials to Expo '67 and then offered to the museum. They were refurbished and used for the last time for the 1977 Royal Visit, taking Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on a day trip to Wakefield, Quebec. Part of the rail collection, the cars are stored in the newly constructed Ingenium Centre.
Let this immersive VR tour transport you into Royal visits of the past.
Find out more:
Railway enthusiasts invited to watch Canadian artifacts take to the tracks
Michel Labrecque
Michel Labrecque is an Assistant Curator at Ingenium Museums. Since joining the Collection and Research Branch in 2010, Michel has actively participated in the heritage and collection development in the transportation, physical sciences, space, astronomy, and communications areas. His curatorial work not only includes a role in the restoration of the Cooke & Sons refracting telescope (ca. 1880), but also the development of the Earth in Focus travelling exhibition (2021), and the Hidden Worlds permanent and on-line exhibitions (2017). Michel is a regular contributor to the Ingenium Channel, and excited to contribute to the ongoing efforts to make Ingenium collections digital, and more accessible than ever. In addition to his work as an Assistant curator, Michel brings over 25 years of Museum-based work and experience in public programming, where he developed many subject and artifact based educational programs, materials, camps and special events to a broad range of audiences.
