After Transit Day started off the special events Sunday, museum operators are now looking forward to the Ice Cream and Starlight event July 12 and August 9 followed by the Roaring '20s Fall Picnic and Mississauga Amateur Radio Club September 20. Wrapping things up will be the very popular Hallowe'en Spooktacular October 18 and 25.

"The Halloween Spooktacular is always a very popular event with the haunted car barn and subway cars, and people can take rides in the creaky, old streetcars along the mainline," said the museum's marketing director, Caroline Rose.

"If you are a Halloween person, this is definitely a spooky experience not to be missed."

Looking back at the start of the season, Rose said Mother Nature didn't deter visitors on opening weekend. With about 160 visitors May 3 to 4, the 2008 season kicked into gear.

"We were quite impressed with the people who came out on opening weekend despite the pouring rain," said Rose.

Rose said extensive work was done at the museum through the winter months, including a full gift shop renovation with new lighting, furniture, paint and display cabinets for the merchandise. Restoration work was done on at least three vehicles, one of which is now completed and is in use for maintenance purposes.

The HCRR museum began in 1953 by three men who had a dream of preserving and educating others about the electric railway history in Ontario and Canada. With railway cars that date back to the 1800s, HCRR members work tirelessly to restore the acquired cars and maintain an extensive collection of materials, information and artifacts.

The HCRR museum is open from May to October on weekends and seven days a week in July and August from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission (before tax) costs $9.75 for adults, $8.50 for seniors, $7.50 for youth (4-17), and children 3 and under are free. A family of five with no more than two adults gets in for $29. For more information, visit their website at www.hcry.org or call (519) 856-9802.