The Railway Club was Vancouver’s longest continually operating nightclub, occupying the same premises uninterrupted from 1931 to 2016. Three distinct rooms made up the second floor space at the corner of Seymour and Dunsmuir Street. The first was an intimate room that hosted music seven nights a week. The second was a pub-style space, and the 3rd looked like it could date directly from the 30’s with lots of brass and a large wood bar.
History
Back in the 1930s, the Railway Club used to limit its membership to the railway workers who worked at the CPR Station (now the Seabus Terminal) just down Seymour Street at the waterfront but it has since opened up to the general public.
Over the years the 'Rail' distinguished itself with some of the most innovative music in town with tons of local bands and some big touring acts. This is where k.d. lang got her 'big break' - Spirit of the West got their start here as well. Other bands who have played the Railway include Los Lobos, The Rheostatics, The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Hard Rock Miners, Barenaked Ladies, Grapes of Wrath, Great Big Sea and thousands more. New acts as well as current favourites performed every night at the Railway.