Last week the MMRS set up this giant, multi-track railway loop, complete with dioramas of train stations, farms, small towns and mountainous terrain. It took up half the gymnasium of Mount Pleasant Elementary and was circled by miniature train enthusiasts, following their own train around the tracks.

The attention to detail in some of the scenes was incredible – from the cows and grain silos in the field to tiny people hanging out at the general store by the railroad crossing. Looking closer revealed moss in the crevasses of rocky passes and manicured shrubbery along a farmer’s fence.

There’s a certain engagement of imagination required to fully appreciate miniature collectables like these and I’ll give you a tip – get down at eye level and you can’t help but think it’s pretty neat to watch the train come out of a mountain side tunnel.

Canada’s largest Railroadiana show is Sunday, March 14th in Burnaby if you have a child or inner-child to indulge.