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 2024 the show happens on the weekend of March 23rd and 24th. If you like trains, including both model toy ones and real locomotives, you’ll want to attend this event! The museum is worth seeing any day that it’s open. It’s an excellent attraction. It’s especially interesting, however, when they have a special event like this one!

For full details about the show, visit the wcra.org website.

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 Day Out With Thomas in the summer and 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 you answered yes to any of these, 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?

In 2024 the Model Train and Hobby Show takes place on the weekend of March 23rd and 24th. Event hours on the Saturday are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. On the Sunday it runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, so for one hour less.

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. In 2024, the Thomas The Train event happens on May 25th and 26th. For details about it, see the West Coast Railway Association website. The same organization also has a smaller museum in Vancouver. The CPR Engine 374 Pavilion is located at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.

Ticket Prices

Admission prices vary depending on your age, how many days you attend, and when you buy your tickets. There are single day tickets and weekend passes available in 2024.

Online prices for the 2024 Model Train and Hobby Show are listed below. The first price in each category is for one day. The second price is for access to the whole weekend of activities.

Adults (ages 16 to 54) – $15, $22
Seniors (ages 55+) – $12, $18
Youth (ages 5 to 15) – $8, $12
Little Kids (ages 4 and under) – Free
Families (2 adults and 2 youth) – $36, $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 are subject to change. See the official Model Train and Hobby Show page for the latest details.

For full details about the show, visit the Railway Museum of British Columbia‘s website.

2024 Exhibitors

There are typically around twenty 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 2024 event, expect to see representatives from the Canadian Toy Train Association, Victoria Model Railway Club and the Greater Vancouver Garden Railway Club. There’s a Hogwarts Village exhibit and an interactive Thomas & Friends train.

The West Coast Scale Trail RC Group and RC Pit Stop are also attending with car tracks to play with. This year, there are vehicle-building demonstrations with the Automotive Model Builders and Collectors of Greater Vancouver. Miniature models are at booths by Pacific Scale Rail, Kelly’s Kaboose and more.