The Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas is suspending operations, with no reopening date set, officials said in a release Wednesday.

The temporary closure is due to “building-related issues outside public areas of the facility,” though the problems “didn’t impact public safety” during recent operations or events, officials said.

“This decision was not made lightly,” said Scott Sleightholm, president of Railworks Coalition, and Wil Zufelt, its chief executive, in a joint statement.

As the museum determines next steps, the building will be closed to the public with limited staff access “while these matters are responsibly addressed,” the statement said.

“While today is a difficult day for our organization, we recognize that it is an even tougher day for our community, which has supported and embraced the museum for generations,” it said.

Since 1988, the Elgin County Railway Museum has been housed in the former Michigan Central Railroad shops, built in 1913.

The museum remains an active site for restoring and repairing railway vehicles, passenger cars and railway service equipment, making its 5,000-square-metre (55,000-square-foot) building at 225 Wellington St. the oldest continuously operating locomotive repair shop in North America.

Before the closure, visitors could take guided tours to learn about St. Thomas’s role in Canada’s rail network and view restoration projects bringing vintage railcars back to life.

More updates on the future of the museum are expected in the spring, “as planning progresses and additional information becomes available,” the release said.

“As we take this time to reflect, assess and plan responsibly, the ECRM remains focused on developing a clear path forward that supports a sustainable and prosperous future for both the museum and its historic building,” it said.