Canada and Model Railroading?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This might be an odd question but being a human geography and economics teacher I am fascinated by this stuff. Being that Canada’s population is only about 36 million, it seems from the amount of Canadian stuff released over the last five years or so, their must be a lot of model railroaders per capita.

I would love to know some statistics about this. Do they exist anywhere? If I am right I need to take a trip up there and check them out.

Do train shows exist up there with layout tours? If so what and when are the good ones. Any info would be greatly appreciated? Jason, have any stats on Canadian MR’s?

Thanks

Steve B

2

Steve,

There are big annual shows in Calgary and Toronto I’m aware of, but many smaller ones, too.

I think the new RTR business model has worked well for Canadians, as they tend to import a lot of stuff already. When model RR shifted to primarily overseas production, they were well placed to get into that.

Consider also that this also has to do with a substantial interest in Canadian prototypes south of the border. The Canadian market isn’t small, percentage wise, but the numbers are far fewer than the US. However, because there are so many on the US who constitute a significant part of the overall interest in Canadian modeling, sales to them help enhance the bulk of the overall market and help Canadian stuff sell well.

Finally, consider that Canada runs right down to New Orleans now that CN owns the old ICG. Americans often may not see Canada, but the still see a lot of CN (and CP closer to Canada itself.)

3

Steve:

I’m a Canadian, living 40 miles east of Toronto. I only know anything about the area within 150 miles of here. Yes we have MR shows nine a year that I know of in this area. The only layout tours that I know of is in Kitchner\Waterloo and area. Sorry no address.

The thing with Canadian Proto type models, is that both CNR and CPR have bought railroads in the USA, trying to get to the Gulf and warm weather ports. This probably spurred American interest.

For any data as to numbers, I have not a clue.

Dave

4

Model Railroading is alive and well here in Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Our club in Saint John, New Brunswick will be hosting a convention this coming May 19-22 which will be a combined event with the Maritime Federation of Model Railroaders and the NorthEastern Region of the NMRA. This is our second such combined event in the past six years.

Special guest speaker at the banquet will be Jason Shron, president of Rapido Trains. I’m sure most modellers are aware of Rapido’s excellent models they have been bringing out in the past several years. Soon to be released is their versions of the Budd RDC cars.

Our convention website: http://pcr2016.weebly.com/

Maybe see you there!

5

There are several train shows in southern Ontario: Woodstock, Paris, Copetown, and Ancaster, to name just a few.
As for layout tours, I think Woodstock, Guelph, and Hamilton, at least. I’m most familiar with the Hamilton one, and it features layouts from all the surrounding towns, too: Burlington, Dundas, Caledonia, Stoney Creek, Grimsby, and Beamsville, along with a couple of ones in rural areas - almost impossible to see them all on the single day of the tour.
Here are a couple of links listing some of the events in southern Ontario:

Charles Cooper’s Railway Pages

Ontario Model Train Shows

Wayne

6

One reason for the increased production of Canadian models over the past few years is that the recession didn’t bite as deeply here as in the U.S. American manufacturers noticed this and started making more Canadian models. (It helped that our dollar was strong against the U.S. dollar, too.) Today, things aren’t as rosy, and our dollar is way down. So that may change things. If so, If it was nice while it lasted.

John Longhurst, Winnipeg

7

Even on the steam side of things since Canada ran steam longer, many locomotives made it south to Steamtown and many tourist railroads. In Pennsylvania alone there are CN 89, 91, 3254, 1533, 7312 CP 972, 1098, 2317, 1278 running at some point, plus more I can’t think of off the top of my head and that really only covers the eastern part of the state. Many people, myself inclued, are quite fond of these engines.

8

To further Dave Murray’s point, above – the most popular railfanning location in Milwaukee Wisconsin is Duplainville (not far from Kalmbach’s HQ) where you watch the CN cross the CP. Ok originally it was the Soo Line later Wisconsin Central that is now CN and the Milwaukee Road later Soo Line was is now the CP. And the active presence of the other “big” railroad in town, the UP (formerly C&NW) is much reduced from a train watching perspective. Apart from those three, local railfanning includes the Wisconsin & Southern, now Watco.

So many younger railfan/modelers locally (and there are some) who want to model what they know are likely to model these Canadian prototypes.

Dave Nelson

9

Steve,

There are a good number of modelers there and I think I understand part of the reason why.

I visited Canada in 2014 and greatly enjoyed it. Anyone that’s a railfan and modeler will feel right at home in Toronto! Heavy freight, VIA Rail, a slew of GO Transit commuter trains, subway line, and electric street cars. (My wife became slightly nauseated when we rode an express GO train and it ran at over 90+mph on a long stretch!"). Additionally I enjoyed getting to meet the Rapido team in Markham (north of Toronto). Inspite of their very busy schedule, Jason Shron and crew were absolutely wonderful hosts!

BTW: There is a model railroad club in Toronto:

http://www.scarborough-model-railroaders.org/ContactUs.html

Additonally “Roundhouse Park” is in the middle of downtown with a retired Geep on display that you can climb on (however, the cab is locked)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/snuffy/14968347992

Head over to Montreal and you’ll see plenty of rail action as well.

Dave, I landed in Toronto but stayed with friends in Oshawa, which is east of Toronto. Are you near there?

-------------------------------Quote from David Murray

I’m a Canadian, living 40 miles east of Toronto. I only know anything about the area within 150 miles of here. Yes we have MR shows nine a year that I know of in this area. The only layout tours that I know of is in Kitchner\Waterloo and area. Sorry no address.

The thing with Canadian Proto type models, is that both CNR and CPR have bought railroads in the USA, trying to get to the Gulf and warm weather ports. This probably spurred American interest.

For any data as to numbers, I have not a clue.

Dave

10

Antonio

I do indeed live in Oshawa. I have a short bio posted.

There is more than one MR club in Toronto.

There is a club in Oshawa, and one in Newcastle.

If you come up again send me a private message.

Dave

11

One of the reasons that Canada exists in its current form, i.e. coast to coast, is because of the railway. If I have my history correct, Sir John A. MacDonald, the then Prime Minister, ordered the railway built to the west coast primarily to keep British Columbia from joining the US.

As for the number of modelers, I haven’t a clue. However, the shows are certainly popular.

The biggest problem for Canadian modelers right now is the weak Cdn $. That, and the cost of shipping from the US, has curtailed a lot of my purchasing from south of the border.

Dave

12

Who knows how many modelers there are. All I know is I seem to run into a lot of fellow modelers in the most unusual places and fairly often. I think climate probably has a lot to do with it, the longer the winter the more model railroaders there likely are.

As far as Canadian stuff being available, I was a very disheartened lad through the sixties as there was nothing truly Canadian on the market. Union Pacific and New Haven were the trains of my childhood and youth just because I don’t think Dad could find any CP or CN or any regionals.

I am now retired and I will be buying up many of those Canadian Steamers Jason is bringing forth, if I live that long. That more than makes up being “short changed” in my youth. It has all worked out in the end.

Last fall a show moved from the Burbs into Vancouver to a much larger venue and it was packed. Here’s to a bright future in the show end of things.

I have PWRS, Britannia Hobbies, Eurorail Hobbies and three heavy on trains hobby shops all within a fifteen minute drive from the house and a few others like Central Hobbies within 40 minutes. The number of Train stores in the greater Vancouver area is surprising (to me at least) so the hobby must be in a healthy state.

13

Thanks for all the reply’s. I do think I need to make a trip up to the Toronto area soon. I am also very impressed the Rapido as I have a couple of their f40phs. I may have to check out the steamers when they come out. I also am hoping he does a MKT RDC 3.

Steve B

14

Hi Dave,

Thank you. I’ll send you a message when I know for sure! Thanks!

15

Don’t forget the Thunder Creek Model Railroad club located in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan where the heavy haul division of CP Rail is located, if you want to watch some real trains too.

16

I also think the exotic scenery and certain railroady things (unique motive power and longer lives for 40’ boxcars and car ferries) help the popularity.

17

I have thought about my firsy answer in this thread, and I left a partly erronous impression.

I said that there a nine model railroad show within 120-150 miles of here.

Only one, in Toronto is Large, of the others, two (Whitby and Bowmanville) fill big high school gyms, one is in part of a hockey rink, and the others are in smaller venues, and are therefor smaller.

Sorry if a left a impression that there was a big/large show often.

Dave

18

Model railroading is alive and well in Alberta which has a number of shows and tours. The largest is Supertrain in Calgary which had 13,000 visitors and 110 displays last year.

Here in Chilliwack BC, we have a nice train show every year in spite of it’s poor promotion.

The other Mel

19

If I remember right the only large show left in Toronto or close to the GTA is the Brampton Train show in October at the Brampton fairgrounds.