When I was a kid of around 6 or 7, I had a cousin that had an HO scale model train set. We were visiting my relatives up in Edmonton and my aunt suggested that my cousin (who was nine years older than me) set up his old train set for me to play with. It was just a simple set with a round track but I was really intrigued. This was a much better model train set than the hand-me-down one that I had at home. This was a "Life Like" set and it looked great. Guess what I wanted for Christmas not too long after?
Sure enough, on Christmas 1980 I got my wish - a train set. I was thrilled. We set it up in our living room and I played with that thing for months... until I got a bit bored and everyone got tired of the tracks and the various houses and buildings being in the way. The train set came down and went back in the boxes. About 10 months later we moved to a new house and a place was set up in the basement for the train. Unfortunately, this space was in a cold and dingy storage room and I didn't enjoy spending time down there playing with the train. For many years the train languished on its table until I put it away and pulled it out again about seven or eight years later. Eventually, I hauled that train set with me from home to home as I moved around. I finally decided to give it away to a friend's kids about six or seven years ago.
I've always had a soft spot though for really well-done model railways. Thus, with the Regina Model Railway show being on this weekend, I thought that I would take my kids to see it. So, I asked them if they wanted to go and I received a somewhat lukewarm response. I asked again and they said they would check it out with me. My wife though - no interest at all! I don't blame her...
So here are some photos and videos from the show. It was worth the price of admission. The kids and I had a great time looking at the displays - especially those that were very intricately designed. Clearly a ton of effort and patience went into the creation of some of these models. It was all very impressive - especially the work of the Echo Valley Model Railroad Guild. This is one group of passionate model railroaders!
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