MORRISTOWN – Ferry boats moved people and cars between Morristown, and Brockville, Ontario for much of the 20th Century. But early in the history of crossing the St. Lawrence, ferry boats also moved railroad cars between the two communities.

An expert on rail transportation in Ontario and Northern New York, Doug Smith of Brockville, will talk about the ferry crossings and rail service at the Morristown Gateway Museum on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m.

Smith’s presentation will include photos and maps. He says that railway car ferries between Brockville and Morristown were a key linkage between New York and Canadian railroad networks and they served as the forerunner of the automobile ferries that crossed the river until the Ogdensburg bridge opened in 1960.

Smith has written extensively on railway history with 12 books and several hundred articles to his credit. He served as co-editor of the historical journal of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association for over 35 years and served on the board of Canada’s largest railway museum located outside of Montreal.

The lecture is sponsored by the Gateway Museum.