Model Train Show at Railway Museum of BC

The Sea to Sky Model Train & Hobby Show is an annual event with miniature trains and family-friendly activities at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish.

In 2025 the show happened on the weekend of March 22nd and 23rd. If you like trains, including both model toy ones and real locomotives, you’ll want to attend this event next year. The museum is worth seeing any day that it’s open. It’s an excellent attraction. It’s especially interesting, however, when the museum hosts a special event like this one.

Visit the wcra.org website for full details about the show.

Model Train and Hobby Show in Squamish

The Railway Museum of British Columbia is an educational venue in Squamish. It features locomotives and railway artifacts on an old-fashioned property. The museum hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including the North Pole Express in the winter. There’s also the Sea to Sky Model Train and Hobby Show in the spring.

Do you like trains, miniature railway models or remote control cars? Are you looking for a fun event with activities for all ages? If yes, the Sea to Sky Model Train and Hobby Show is an event for you.

The event is an annual gathering of hobby enthusiasts in Squamish. It features all sorts of model trains, equipment and tools in the museum’s buildings. The event attracts people from all over the Lower Mainland. Vendors showcase and sell miniature railways, modelling kits and accessories. There are also plastic models and wooden trains to entertain kids, plus an area to play with remote control cars.

In addition to all of the hobby trains and cars, there are also real trains to admire and explore on-site. During the weekend of the event, special rides are offered on the museum’s outdoor railways at select times as well.

Where and When is the Train Show?

In 2025 the Model Train and Hobby Show took place on the weekend of March 22nd and 23rd. Event hours on the Saturday were from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On the Sunday it ran from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Railway Museum of BC is located at 39645 Government Road in Squamish. It’s about an hour’s drive from both Vancouver and Whistler in either direction. The model train show happens during Spring Break, meaning you can make a longer trip to the Sea-to-Sky Region with your family!

Travelling along the Sea-to-Sky Highway is always a treat. If you want to make other stops along the way, check out the Britannia Mine Museum. It too is an exceptional museum. Shannon Falls and Alice Lake Provincial Park are also both nearby.

Note: The Railway Museum of BC is the same place that hosts the Day Out With Thomas event in the spring and North Pole Express in the Christmas holiday season. Sadly, the Thomas The Train event was cancelled in 2025. See the West Coast Railway Association website for details about what it’s like when it happens. The same organization also has a smaller museum in Vancouver. The CPR Engine 374 Pavilion is located at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.

Model Train Show at Railway Museum of BC — Railway Museum of BC in Squamish

Ticket Prices

Admission prices vary depending on your age, how many days you attend, and when you buy your tickets. There were single day tickets and weekend passes available in 2025.

Online prices for the 2025 Model Train and Hobby Show are listed below. The first price in each category was for one day. The second price was for access to the whole weekend of activities.

Adults (ages 16 to 54) – $15 or $22
Seniors (ages 55+) – $12 or $18
Youth (ages 5 to 15) – $8 or $12
Little Kids (ages 4 and under) – Free
Families (2 adults and 2 youth) – $36 or $50

Tickets at the gate cost about $3 more. To get the best deal, book your tickets online in advance. Train rides outside the museum cost between $3 and $10 per person. Guided tours are also available for free during the event.

Note: The prices above were subject to change. See the official Model Train and Hobby Show page for the latest details.

Visit the Railway Museum of British Columbia‘s website for full details about the show.

Train Show Exhibitors

There are around 30 vendors and exhibitors at the event over the weekend. Some sell hobby models and supplies, while others offer interesting displays or interactive activities.

At the 2025 event you could expect to see representatives from the Canadian Toy Train Association, Victoria Model Railway Club and the Greater Vancouver Garden Railway Club. There was a Hogwarts Village exhibit and an interactive Thomas & Friends train. The Vancouver Lego Club had a large display to check out too.

This year’s event also featured an RC Pit Stop with car tracks to play with. There were vehicle-building demonstrations with the Automotive Model Builders and Collectors of Greater Vancouver. Miniature models were at booths by Pacific Scale Rail, Kelly’s Kaboose and more.

Model Train Show Video

Check out the following video for an idea of what to expect at the Sea to Sky Model Train and Hobby Show. The video shows scenes of the event from 2024.

(Video Credit: The music in the video is Blues The Train by Charles Shomo from Pixabay. The video, however, was made by Vancouver’s Best Places.)