N.B. island pays tribute to railway history [Video]

A New Brunswick island’s rail heritage is getting special recognition this summer through re-discovered art and thousands of Lego pieces.

Ministers Island is the former estate of Sir William Van Horne, the chief engineer of Canadian Pacific Railway and its president during the late 1880s.

Sir William Van Horne (Courtesy: Parks Canada)

The island’s “RailFest” runs Aug. 5, featuring a model train village constructed out of more than 100,000 Lego pieces and opportunities for visitors to win prizes with their own additions.

Michael Meagher, manager of marketing and events at Ministers Island, says the site has been trying to find new ways to celebrate its rail heritage.

“We’ve been wanting to have trains on the island for a long time now, and we can’t get real trains across to the island. So, the thought of having a model train display was something that has been with us for awhile,” says Meagher.

“RailFest” on Ministers Island, N.B., includes a Lego replica of the historic train …