Veteran and beginner exhibitors put their trains on display at the 34th annual All Aboard 2018 Model Train Show in Saskatoon.
“When I saw someone else’s display like that, I wanted to be in the show,” James Keyworth, one of the 19 exhibitors at the show, said.
James Keyworth has attended the train show for a few years as a visitor, but this weekend is the first time the six-year-old showcased his train city at the show.
“Two months ago, he started talking about the train show and asking if he could be an exhibitor this year. We tried to talk him out of it, because we thought he was a little bit young and it’s a long couple of days. But he was pretty relentless which is a good thing. He’s really dedicated to his trains,” James’ mother Tiffany Keyworth said.
James is showing his Takara Tomy trains which originated in Japan.
“He saves his allowance for them, and gets them as birthday and Christmas presents. Between trains and rechargeable batteries we never worry about gift ideas,” Tiffany said.
Organizers of the annual show expected more than 5,000 people over the weekend, which makes for the second largest model train show in western Canada.
“The hobby has been growing over the years. Technology is changing, so it’s more welcoming to the younger generation. They can control the trains now through their phones and tablets,” Prairie Rail Workshop president Craig Mykytyzyn said.
Exhibitors from around Saskatchewan, as well as Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta showed their displays at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum (WDM), including the Bow Valley Model Railway Club from Calgary.
“It brings back a lot of memories for people and I guess that’s one of the reasons for the hobby. It lets you reminisce and be a little bit nostalgic about the way things used to be,” Gord Smith, with the Bow Valley Model Railway Club, said. “Some guys like to model modern things and some of us like to model things a little older.”
The model train show concludes Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT.
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